Finucane family, SDLP and Irish government react as demands for public inquiry rebuffed

The SDLP have also voiced anger, and the Irish government – in a statement from its foreign minister a few minutes ago – have likewise said they are disappointed.

The 1989 killing has been the subject of three different reviews (in 2003, 2004 and 2012) by senior figures in the justice system, and all three reviews have cited evidence of state/loyalist collusion in the murder, via the use of undercover moles.

But the Finucane family aimed to obtain a full public inquiry, which could hold open hearings and compel evidence out of witnesses.

A loyalist, Ken Barrett, was also convicted and jailed in 2004 over the killing.

Pat Finucane’s son John (SF’s MP for North Belfast) said: “We are very angry. What the British Government proposed to us today was nothing short of insulting.

“The British Government at every opportunity will continue to make the wrong decision and put all their efforts into ensuring that the truth of what happened to my father will not see the light of day and they are intent on suppressing that.”

Another son, Michael, said: “I think we were quite angered and exasperated at the Secretary of State’s conclusion in the matter because he has proposed that the case is to be resolved by way of an investigation carried out by local police in Northern Ireland.

“I don think anyone, looking at the evidence in this case and the agencies involved, would propose with any degree of credibility that this could be handled by the local police.

“There was a frank exchange of views and he (Brandon Lewis) is in no doubt of the deep dissatisfaction.”

And a family statement dubbed the move “astonishing, arrogant and cruel”, saying: “There is only one reason to ask the local police to investigate a case that involves the British Army, the Security Services and former members of government: it means they will be untouchable.

“It is this internalisation of the issue to Northern Ireland that has allowed those responsible for the murder of Pat Finucane to do so with impunity.

“In failing to establish a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, the British Government have not only set themselves against my family but also the Irish government, local, national and international political parties, political institutions, legal and human rights groups domestically and internationally.”

NATIONALISM REACTS:

Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP, told the House of Commons: “I absolutely do not thank (Brandon Lewis) for that statement. The British state murdered Pat Finucane and the Secretary of State has failed miserably to do right by his family today.

“Does he realise that he is sending out a very clear message to all victims and the message is this – if you want the truth about what happened to your loved ones, don’t come looking for it here.”

And in a statement, the Irish government’s foreign minister Simon Coveney said: “It has been the strong and consistent position of the Irish Government that only a full and independent public inquiry, as provided for under the Weston Park agreement in 2001, would provide a satisfactory outcome to this case.

“We are disappointed that the opportunity was not taken today to establish such an inquiry without further delay.

“However, we note that the Secretary of State has not ruled out the holding of such an inquiry.

“In a case like this, in which Prime Minister Cameron acknowledged that there were ‘shocking levels of collusion’, there is an undeniable onus on the state to do everything possible to restore public confidence through a process that fully meets relevant international standards and obligations of effectiveness, independence and transparency.

“I have conveyed to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland our disappointment that an inquiry has not been established and made clear that it remains the position of the Government that only through a full and independent public inquiry will a satisfactory resolution to this case be found.

“We will study the detail of the announcement by the Secretary of State in full. We will also ask to meet again with the Finucane family to hear their perspective and concerns. We will then be engaging further with the UK Government on this case.”

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Alistair Bushe

Editor