Finucane collusion inquiry: ‘I have waited 50 years for proper probe into IRA bloodbath’

As renewed calls are made for another inquiry into the Pat Finucane murder, a bereaved brother has said he is still waiting after half-a-century for an inquiry into a far more bloody atrocity.
By Adam Kula
Published 13th Mar 2021, 07:37 BST
Updated 13th Mar 2021, 08:59 BST
A mural in east Belfast mourning the nine civilians murdered in Claudy, and pinning the blame on suspect Father James Chesney (now deceased)A mural in east Belfast mourning the nine civilians murdered in Claudy, and pinning the blame on suspect Father James Chesney (now deceased)
A mural in east Belfast mourning the nine civilians murdered in Claudy, and pinning the blame on suspect Father James Chesney (now deceased)

Claudy bomb campaigner David Temple was speaking as fresh pressure is heaped on the UK authorities in relation to the Finucane case, thanks to a statement from the Council of Europe, which said that it is to begin scrutinising UK law enforcement’s investigations into the 1989 shooting.

It has also invited UK authorities to clarify how the PSNI and Police Ombudsmans’s ongoing examinations of the Finucane murder – widely believed to have involved loyalist–state collusion – are in keeping with its human rights standards.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 47-nation council oversees the implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments, and back in 2003 the court had said “proceedings following the death of Patrick Finucane failed to provide a prompt and effective investigation into the allegations of collusion by security personnel”. The UK Supreme Court issued a similar judgement in 2019.

John Finucane, Sinn Fein MP for North Belfast and son of 39-year-old shooting victim Pat, said: “I think what the announcement today does is it puts a level of scrutiny and spotlight on the British Government and how they propose to deal with the investigation and all of the circumstances around the murder of my father.”

Asked if it makes a public inquiry more likely, Mr Finucane said: “I think it does, because the announcement last November that the British Government essentially wanted to bat this back to the PSNI and the Police Ombudsman, I don’t think that really held much water with anybody internationally.”

Mr Temple’s brother William was 16 when he was blown up in the triple IRA car-bombing of the tiny village of Claudy on July 31, 1972, along with eight others.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said the Finucane family is “entitled to justice”, but added: “I’m still waiting, next year 50 years, to get justice for my brother.

“My father went to his grave without any justice. My mother passed away near three years ago at 91 years of age. And I’ll be next.

“I should be entitled too to justice, when there’s so much collusion in Claudy.”

Mr Temple (now 68 and living in Donemana) believes that the police, NIO and Irish government all colluded to stifle the investigation into Claudy because of the long-suspected involvement of Father James Chesney.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Temple believes a fear of reprisals upon clergy and an escalation of violence caused the authorities to scotch the chances of prosecutions.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said he was not taking a public inquiry into the Finucane killing off the table, but said further examinations of the case by police and the Police Ombudsman should conclude first.

There have already been three different reports which looked in detail at the events surrounding Mr Finucane’s death, carried out by senior figures in the justice system (the Stevens III report of 2003, the Cory report of 2004, and the de Silva report of 2012).

They all cited evidence of state/loyalist collusion.

But if the government were to convene a public inquiry (akin to the Bloody Sunday inquiry, for instance) it is expected its hearings would all be public and that its chair would be able to force people to attend and give evidence.

More on Pat Finucane from this reporter:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Click here: DUP figures remind MPs about IRA terror – including role of dead lawyer’s three brothers

Click here: Labour NI spokeswoman on why she backs Finucane inquiry out of thousands of unsolved murders

Click here: ‘Pain of the Finucane family is no different to our own – why do we not get the same consideration?’

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor