The British government has announced a public inquiry into the murder of Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane, who was shot dead by loyalist terrorists in 1989.
His killing became one of the most notorious of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, raising the issue of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and British state forces.
Mr Finucane (39) was shot 14 times in front of his wife and three children as they sat eating a meal in their Belfast home.
He had come to prominence as an effective defence solicitor, representing IRA members and loyalists accused of terrorist offences at the height of the conflict.
Taoiseach Simon Harris today welcomed the decision as "a vindication of Geraldine Finucane and her family".
“This is the beginning of a process and it will be important that, as details are confirmed, there is confidence that it can meet the standards and independence thresholds essential to an inquiry of this nature," he said.
Mr Harris said he discussed the Pat Finucane case with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer "as recently as last Saturday when we met in Dublin".
“I know that the Prime Minister is committed to finding a new approach to legacy issues in Northern Ireland, and today’s decision by the British government is in keeping with the spirit of that commitment.
“I have indicated to the Prime Minister that we stand ready to work with him and his Government on legacy issues.”
Inquest
During an inquest into Mr Finucane’s death, police refuted his killers' claims that he had been a member of the IRA but their investigation went nowhere.
Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner John Stevens, who was appointed to investigate claims of collusion between the killers and the British State, found that two agents had been involved in Mr Finucane's murder.
In 2001, the British government appointed a Canadian judge to examine the case and vowed to hold a public inquiry if he found evidence of collusion.
That judge found "strong evidence" of collusion, including that MI5 had been aware of the threat in advance; however, the British government reneged on its commitment.
In 2011, with the British government still under pressure to hold a public inquiry, former UN war crimes prosecutor Desmond de Silva was asked to review the case again.
When his report was published, the then British Prime Minister David Cameron apologised to the Finucane family for "frankly shocking levels of collusion".
Pat Finucane's widow Geraldine has led a tireless legal campaign. The UK Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that there had been never an adequate investigation.
A Court of Appeal ruling had given the UK government until September 27th 2024 to announce whether or not a public inquiry would be held.
Reporting by: IRN
