London has a duty to balance legacy investigation into claims against the state, including the millions spent on the Finucane case

Given that he was a lawyer and that there was some state collusion in the case, it has been the subject of probes costing millions, including by the policeman John Stevens and the globally respected human rights lawyer Sir Desmond de Silva.

He was appointed after campaigners for a public inquiry rejected one being held under the 2005 Inquiries Act.

The prime minister David Cameron apologised after his report, which found no over-arching conspiracy.

But demands grow for millions more to be spent on this one Troubles killing. Dublin, Irish opposition parties, Alliance, and now the Labour Party have joined a republican call for, in effect, this case to be singled out for scrutiny.

It is grinding its way through the courts again, even though the Supreme Court said recently it was up to the UK whether or not to hold an inquiry.

Judges said no probe compliant with Article Two of the human rights convention had been held into Finucane, despite millions spent. This was wrongly reported as a court order for a probe.

No government could meet more than a fraction of the need to get truth and justice for the 3,700 Troubles dead.

Yet the handling of the Finucane case illustrates the legacy imbalance, as William Matchett says on page 19 (see link below), and other voices such as Kate Hoey have also said this week.

It would be madness to spend vast sums on the past in a financial crisis. But if London goes down this road it will be an outrage if it does not open multiple probes into IRA terrorism including one into their murder of judges and lawyers.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

• Focus on murder of Pat Finucane shows how other victims have been devalued

• Labour NI spokeswoman on why she is backing Finucane inquiry amid thousands of unsolved murders

• Ex-Labour MP Kate Hoey on Pat Finucane: Party must not side with those who want to rewrite Troubles history

• Pat Finucane inquiry: Top intel figure speaks up in defence of undercover moles

• Ex-top RUC main: Will Labour back public inquiries for other families – not just the Finucanes? ——— ———A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

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Alistair Bushe

Editor