The family of Pat Finucane, the Northern Ireland lawyer murdered by Loyalist gunmen, have walked out on British Prime Minister David Cameron after he refused to grant them an independent inquiry into his death. He instead offered a review, conducted by a leading lawyer.
Pat Finucane’s widow Geraldine told reporters outside 10 Downing Street that she “felt so angry I can hardly speak.”
Finucane was eating dinner at his north Belfast home when he was gunned down by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989.
Finucane advocates have claimed that the cover up of his killing goes to the very highest levels of the British government and may even have led to Margaret Thatcher herself.
Just before his death, Finucane had been named in the British parliament by one of Thatcher’s ministers as a lawyer who was too close to the IRA.
His family have long sought an independent public inquiry. One was promised by Tony Blair but never delivered. There were high hopes that Cameron would announce such an inquiry.
Speaking afterwards, Mrs Finucane stated, "He (David Cameron) is offering a review. He wants a QC to read the papers in my husband's case and that is how he expects to reach the truth.
"All of us are very upset and very disappointed."
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Mr Finucane's son Michael stated of the review, "The family of Pat Finucane will not be allowed to participate, we will not be allowed to read documents for ourselves, we will not be allowed to ask questions of witnesses, if indeed any witnesses are going to be questioned.
"We will not be allowed to put our point of view across, we will simply not be a part of this process at all.
"How could anybody sign up to something like that - it's a farce.”
Cameron’s office issued a statement saying, "The prime minister expressed his profound sympathy for the family and said it was clear from (the) Stevens and Corey (inquiries) that statecollusion had taken place in Mr Finucane's murder and he accepted these conclusions.
"On behalf of the government he apologized to the family.
"He confirmed that the government's priority was to get to the truth in the best and most effective way and the secretary of state will set out the details for this process shortly."
SDLP justice spokesperson Alban Maginness stated that the decision was "unacceptable", "After all this length of time one would have expected better from the British government and prime minister on an issue that runs deep into the British military and security complex" he added.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.DanOLoingsigh | Oct 12, 2011, 07:27 PM EDT
Why would loyalist killers need any help getting at Pat Finucane? He was a public figure… …but let’s assume there was collusion…so there’s an enquiry…and collusion is proven…what next…prosecutions? Sentences? Mitigated by GFA rules? Do we apply the same to our esteemed Presidential candidate?
seanomelbourne | Oct 12, 2011, 06:32 PM EDT
Daithi let's wait for McGuinness to make a statement.A rush to judgement unreasonable.I agree he has been mute on some issues regarding his former comrades. At least they'll not be executed as FG and FF executed their former comrades.
merefalow | Oct 12, 2011, 03:13 PM EDT
did you realy expect justice from these people..there will never be justice ever ,only when they cant cover their tracks, and even then you wont get anything.it stinks,but then it always has.
BARNEYKX | Oct 12, 2011, 01:39 PM EDT
But they could spend 30 million on inquiry costs to the murder of Billy Wright why???????????? every one wants to know this
BARNEYKX | Oct 12, 2011, 01:36 PM EDT
B
DaithiSuibhne | Oct 12, 2011, 12:45 PM EDT
This is what is called 'British Justice'. The Brits have no intention of disclosing any truth's about Patrick Finucane's murder to the public simply because 'They don't have to'.More than likley the 'Order' to eliminate Finucane came from the 'Higher Echelon'in the Brit establishment and to expose them, well they just won't do that,it would be, shall we say, to'Sticky'.Just one more note to all that believe the 'British Government' is on the up and up with all things 'Irish',we are being duped again.Typical British attitude'Tell Paddy anything he'll just have to stomach it,besides he can't do a damn thing about it'. @ Rebelforce- I'm very much in doubt that the Irish Government or the media will be very benevolent to the Finucane family in this matter. They have had plenty of time to 'Pressure' the Brits to bring this incident to an honest conclusion over the last 22yrs.and they have remained conspicuously silent. I'm sure that Martin McGuinness will find the PM's decision quite adequate since he is quite capable of turning his back on former comrads,especially ones that were held in 'High Regard' to the Republican movement.
Searlit | Oct 12, 2011, 12:39 PM EDT
I support this family in their quest for the truth of how their loved one was murdered. It is a shame that there are people, in power that know, but the family isn't allowed to know. It isn't hearsay evidence, since the British government has already admitted that the conclusions find there was state collusion involved. The truth will come out, eventually.
Rebelforce | Oct 11, 2011, 06:19 PM EDT
I'm sure the irish government and media will register a strong peep of protest over this.