The former Northern Ireland police chief was giving evidence to the public inquiry into the murder of the 40-year-old, who died in a loyalist bomb attack in 1999 amid allegations of security force collusion.

Sir Ronnie gave a statement to the inquiry noting he did not believe files were kept on the solicitor, but yesterday said he was surprised to hear their existence had been detected by the inquiry.

"I am not aware of any files, paper or otherwise, that have been kept on Mrs Nelson," Sir Ronnie said in a statement to the inquiry.

"My impression at the time was that Rosemary Nelson was a lawyer who was doing her job."

But yesterday, lead counsel to the inquiry, Rory Phillips QC, told Sir Ronnie that evidence gathered by the inquiry had shown Mrs Nelson had a Special Branch number signifying the existence of files on her.

On the issue of files kept on Mrs Nelson, Sir Ronnie responded: "I would have been surprised that there would."

He added: "I had no personal reason to understand... that there would be any material that would make appropriate the creation of such a file."

Sir Ronnie said he had become aware of the existence of such files only after reviewing evidence already given to the inquiry.

The former police chief began three days of evidence at the inquiry.