22 July 1999 Edition
Informer wants Stevens officer as witness
By Deirdre Feehan
A loyalist Special Branch informer accused of murdering Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989 is to call on a member of the Stevens Inquiry to give evidence at his remand hearing.
After being charged last month, former Ulster Defence Regiment soldier William Alfred Stobie (48), from Forthriver Road in Belfast, told the court he had been a Special Branch informer at the time of the killing. Stobie told the hearing he had used his position as a UDA/UFF quartermaster to keep his RUC handlers informed of loyalist paramilitary operations.
When pleading not guilty to the murder of Finucane, he told the court that he had twice informed the RUC Special Branch that someone was about to be killed. After the killing, Stobie gave information about the murder weapons to his handlers.
Stobie is the first person to be charged with the murder since the reopening of the investigation by Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Stevens in April. During a brief remand hearing at the Maze Court last week, defence solicitor Joe Rice told resident magistrate Rosemary Watters that he did not expect a delay in committal proceedings because evidence relating to the case has been in the hands of the RUC for years.
``The crown should now be in a position to set a date for committal,'' Rice said. ``The evidence has been in existence for eight to ten years. Perhaps a member of the Stevens Inquiry could come to court to explain the delay.''
Stobie was remanded in custody until 11 August.
A loyalist Special Branch informer accused of murdering Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989 is to call on a member of the Stevens Inquiry to give evidence at his remand hearing.
After being charged last month, former Ulster Defence Regiment soldier William Alfred Stobie (48), from Forthriver Road in Belfast, told the court he had been a Special Branch informer at the time of the killing. Stobie told the hearing he had used his position as a UDA/UFF quartermaster to keep his RUC handlers informed of loyalist paramilitary operations.
When pleading not guilty to the murder of Finucane, he told the court that he had twice informed the RUC Special Branch that someone was about to be killed. After the killing, Stobie gave information about the murder weapons to his handlers.
Stobie is the first person to be charged with the murder since the reopening of the investigation by Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Stevens in April. During a brief remand hearing at the Maze Court last week, defence solicitor Joe Rice told resident magistrate Rosemary Watters that he did not expect a delay in committal proceedings because evidence relating to the case has been in the hands of the RUC for years.
``The crown should now be in a position to set a date for committal,'' Rice said. ``The evidence has been in existence for eight to ten years. Perhaps a member of the Stevens Inquiry could come to court to explain the delay.''
Stobie was remanded in custody until 11 August.