Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn announced on Friday, June 13, that Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed Chair of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry.
Hickinbottom is the current President of the Welsh Tribunals. He is a solicitor and a retired Court of Appeal Judge, who undertook the statutory inquiry into corruption and governance in the British Virgin Islands.
Benn also announced on Friday that he had appointed Baroness Nuala O’Loan Francesca Del Mese as Assessors to the Inquiry. Both will provide advice to the Chair on their relevant expertise in regards to the Inquiry, while also giving further assurance about the Inquiry’s independence.
The announcement of the Chair and Assessors comes about nine months after Benn told British Parliament that he would be establishing an independent inquiry into Finucane's 1989 murder under the 2005 Inquiries Act.
The murder of Pat Finucane
On February 12, 1989, Pat Finucane, 39, was shot and killed by members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), a loyalist paramilitary group, at his Belfast home in front of his wife, Geraldine, and their three children.
His family has campaigned for truth and justice ever since.
In 2012, then-British Prime Minister David Cameron apologized to the Finucane family after Sir Desmond de Silva's report found "shocking levels of collusion" in the lawyer's murder.
In 2020, the British Government announced it would not be pursuing a public inquiry into the murder of Finucane.
That, however, changed with Benn's announcement in September of an independent inquiry.
"This inquiry will provide answers"
Benn said on Friday: "The murder of Mr. Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
"I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs. Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one, and I am confident that this Inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly."
Benn said the Chair and Assessors' "valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the Inquiry."
The Northern Ireland Office noted on Friday that as required by the Inquiries Act 2005, Benn will undertake a consultation exercise with the Chair on the proposed Terms of Reference for the Inquiry. These will be agreed and published in due course.
The Secretary of State has today announced the appointment of Sir Gary Hickinbottom as Chair of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry.
More details here: https://t.co/Q1MDeSQJe7
— Northern Ireland Office (@NIOgov) June 13, 2025
"Proceed with fierce independence"
Responding on Friday, MLA Deirdre Hargey, Sinn Féin's justice spokesperson, said: “Nine months after the announcement of a public inquiry into the killing of human rights lawyer Pat Finucane, it is welcome that a chairperson has finally been named.
“It is now vital that the inquiry begins its work at pace and is allowed to proceed with fierce independence.
“36 years on from his murder, Pat Finucane’s family continue to show immense courage in their pursuit of truth and justice, seeking to uncover the full circumstances around his killing.
"After decades of tireless campaigning, this process must deliver the answers the Finucane family have long fought for, and the inquiry must work closely with them to help secure these."
"Step forward"
Also responding on Friday, TD Mary Lou McDonald, the President of Sinn Féin, said: “It has now been 11 long months since the court ruled in favour of establishing a proper independent public inquiry, and nine months since the British Government finally conceded, under significant legal and political pressure, that a public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane would be established.
“Today’s appointment of the Chair and assessors is a necessary, if overdue, step forward.
“The British Government must now allow the inquiry team to get on with its work — independently, transparently, properly resourced and without political interference.
“Sinn Féin will continue to stand in full solidarity with Mrs. Geraldine Finucane, her children, and the entire Finucane family. We pay tribute once again to their determination having campaigned vigorously with great courage and dignity for almost four decades since Pat’s murder in February 1989.”
British Government must now allow full independence and transparency in Pat Finucane Inquiry – @MaryLouMcDonald
"Sinn Féin will continue to stand in full solidarity with Mrs Geraldine Finucane, her children, and the entire Finucane family."https://t.co/cThL7PiNfz
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) June 13, 2025
"Important and substantive work"
Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris welcomed Friday's announcement.
"This is the final outstanding inquiry from those that were recommended by Judge Cory in 2004, and it is positive that it can now move to beginning its important and substantive work," Harris said.
"Today’s announcement highlights the importance that a way forward is found to comprehensively address all the outstanding cases of the Troubles, in a way that is human rights compliant and that has the needs of victims and families at its heart.
"I continue to engage closely with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with this objective."
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