A New Brunswick Progressive Conservative MLA is calling for an independent inquiry into Erin Michael Walsh's wrongful conviction case and subsequent controversies.

Walsh has a civil suit pending that names several groups, including the province and the Saint John Police Force over his wrongful murder conviction in 1975.

Tory MLA Carl Urquhart, the Opposition's public safety critic, said he believes the Walsh case should be taken out of the province's hands.

"The whole thing has come to a point where it's no longer about Erin Walsh. It's about the public has got to know that the whole thing is clean and above board," Urquhart said.

He said the Tory caucus will be discussing the need for an independent inquiry at its meeting on Tuesday.

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal acquitted Walsh of the 1975 murder conviction in March 2008.

Province has mishandled case: PC MLA

The Tory MLA is pointing to two specific reasons why he believes the province should remove itself from the Walsh matter.

Urquhart said another confusing factor is that the RCMP is investigating whether the Canadian Police Information Centre's database was improperly used by someone connected to the Saint John Police Force to look into Walsh's criminal file.

Walsh, who is originally from Kingston, Ont., maintained his innocence for more than 32 years, and is now dying of colon cancer.

Urquhart said the Walsh case has been badly handled by the Liberal government.

There have been four different cabinet ministers responsible for the Walsh file in the last three months.

Former justice minister T.J. Burke was taken off the file when three University of New Brunswick law students accused him of discussing the case at a public event.

The case was then passed to Finance Minister Greg Byrne, but after he suffered health problems the file was given to Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock.

After last week's cabinet shuffle, Justice Minister Michael Murphy now has responsibility for the case.