The Brehon Law Societies of New York will hold a fundraiser this Thursday, January 15, to highlight their upcoming conference in Dublin in February commemorating the life and legacy of Belfast Human Rights Lawyer Pat Finucane who was shot in 1989. The conference, which takes place February 13, 14, 15 in Trinity College in Dublin, will bring to light the life and legacy of Finucane and the circumstances surrounding his death. Finucane, 39 at the time of his death, had already achieved a reputation as a courageous and skilled litigator in Belfast. He represented clients that many other attorneys were afraid to represent because of growing intimidation and threats directed against lawyers by government agents. Although never proven, it is believed that Finucane was shot by the British military intelligence and Loyalist death squads. Since his death, his family, friends and colleagues have requested a public inquiry surrounding the circumstances of his death. According to Sean Downes of the Brehon Law Society, this conference in Dublin will reinforce the need for such an inquiry. The conference, which will be attended by hundreds of lawyers from both the U.S. and Ireland, will hear from distinguished speakers including Northern Ireland civil rights leader Inez McCormack, international human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield, and Judge Peter Cory, former justice of Supreme Court of Canada who presided over collusion inquiry into murders of Finucane and others in Northern Ireland among others. "We hope that legal members of the community will attend the fundraiser and support the campaign for an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane," said Downes. The fundraiser on Thursday will be held at Harbour Lights Restaurant, Pier 17, South Street Seaport in downtown Manhattan from 6-9 p.m. A $150 donation is suggested. There will be an open bar, hors d'oeuvres and music. For more information on the fundraiser or the conference contact Downes at 212-248-3232 or email at [email protected].
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