Pat Finucane: Family of murdered solicitor say decision not to hold a public inquiry is an 'insult'
The deadly attack by the Ulster Defence Association was found to have involved collusion with the state.
Monday 30 November 2020 21:43, UK
The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane say the government’s decision not to hold a public inquiry is an "insult".
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told the Commons on Monday there would be no public inquiry into Mr Finucane's death "at this time".
His son John told Sky News the decision was "less than a sop".
While speaking to the media, he added: "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."
The decision comes after a court judgment found there was a failure to hold an "effective investigation" into his death at the hands of loyalist paramilitaries.
Mr Finucane, a 39-year-old solicitor who represented both republican and loyalist paramilitaries during the Troubles, was shot dead in his family home in north Belfast in February 1989.
He was killed by the Ulster Defence Association in an attack found to have involved collusion with the state.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Police Ombudsman investigations are to go ahead.
Mr Finucane's son Michael said his family is "disappointed" but "not surprised" at the decision.
Speaking following a virtual call with Mr Lewis, 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't 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."
Mr Finucane's widow Geraldine and the couple's three children have been pushing for decades for a public inquiry, which they hope can establish the extent of security force involvement.
In light of the decision, they have promised to continue campaigning until their questions are answered.
The Supreme Court ruled last year that all previous examinations of the death had not been compliant with human rights standards.
The court noted Mrs Finucane had been given an "unequivocal undertaking" by the government following the 2001 Weston Park agreement that there would be a public inquiry into the murder.
However, the Supreme Court judges found the government had been justified in later deciding against holding one.
It said that it was up to the government to decide what form of investigation was now required, if one was feasible.
Amid a government delay in responding to the judgment, Mrs Finucane launched fresh judicial review proceedings against the state.
And Mr Lewis's lawyers gave a High Court judge in Belfast a commitment last month that a decision would be announced by 30 November.
In a statement, Mr Lewis said: "I have this afternoon spoken to the Finucane family, I advised them of my decision not to establish a public inquiry at this time."
But he told MPs he is "not taking the possibility of a public inquiry off the table at this stage", adding the PSNI and police ombudsman processes must move forward without the risk of prejudicing any emerging conclusions from their work.
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: "It is our view that there are currently no new lines of inquiry.
"We now need to decide if a further review is merited given all the previous investigations into this case.
"Once we have determined that, we will inform the Finucane family."
Shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland Louise Haigh said: "That this crime could happen at all in our country is shocking, that it has never been investigated to a lawful standard is unjustifiable.
"We have to ask ourselves, as we do with all legacy issues with the Troubles, do we accept a lesser standard of justice for citizens of Northern Ireland than we would if this terrible crime had happened in our constituencies?"
She added: "Today's announcement is a painful setback for those who have campaigned for the truth for decades and in faith that the government is committed to reconciliation."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Brandon Lewis had "failed miserably" to do right by the family of Pat Finucane.
He said: "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."