Official title: Brian Nelson and the murder of Patrick Finucane
In brief
- De Silva found Nelson was involved in the murder through UDA targeting.
- He found the FRU was not told of the plan in advance and rejected claims that its records were doctored; critics dispute that assessment.
What this chapter covers
Chapter 21 examines what Brian Nelson, the Army agent who was the UDA's intelligence officer, did in relation to the murder, and what his FRU handlers knew.
Key findings
- De Silva found that Nelson was involved in the murder as part of the UDA's targeting process.
- He found that the FRU was not given information about the plan to kill Finucane before it happened, but that the Army must bear a degree of responsibility for Nelson's targeting activity in general.
- The chapter examines the Army's contact forms, the records of meetings between Nelson and his handlers, and allegations that some had been altered or withheld. De Silva rejected claims that the forms were doctored.
- He also considered evidence given by a former FRU soldier and found it not credible on key points.
Disputes
This is one of the most contested chapters. Critics, including the authors of a Statewatch analysis, argue that de Silva relied too heavily on records kept by people who, the report itself found elsewhere, had lied to investigators, while discounting evidence from Nelson's own statements. Those disagreements are part of why the family continued to seek a public inquiry.