PRESS RELEASE
Today’s finding in London that Russian man Alexander Litvinenko was killed "probably" with the approval of President Vladimir Putin shows that determined inquiries can come to important conclusions - without necessarily the co-operation of perpetrators.
The public inquiry (which began as an inquest) under Chairman Sir Robert Owen has concluded that Mr Litvinenko, 43 was poisoned with radioactive polonium in a cup of tea.
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (the FSB) refused to co-operate with the inquiry – yet it was able to take eye-witness testimony and other evidence that allowed it to make major findings.
In mid-2013 an inquest into Mr. Litvinenko's death was delayed with the Coroner recommending a public inquiry. British ministers ruled this out but in Feb 2014 the High Court ruled this was wrong.
The PFC believes this ruling has implications for truth-recovery processes in Ireland.
Some commentators have written that the legacy proposals set out in the Stormont House Agreement would be unworkable and worthless without prior commitments by perpetrators, both state and paramilitary, to full co-operation.
The Litvinenko Inquiry, however, which received no co-operation from the alleged perpetrators has been able to reach important conclusions, despite this obstacle.
Already in Ireland, seemingly insuperable obstacles put in its way by the Ministry of Defence did not prevent the Bloody Sunday tribunal reaching similarly important conclusions.
The Historical Enquiries Team was able, in some cases, to provide vital information to bereaved families, such as those whose loved-ones were the victims of collusion between members of the RUC/UDR and UVF in the Glenanne Gang.
And the families of the ten Protestant workmen shot dead at Kingsmill have also been informed of ballistic links between the weapons used and the IRA.
This is all powerful evidence pointing to the worth of robust, determined and focussed inquiries into attacks – even those which took place over forty years ago and when the believed perpetrators refuse to co-operate.