The British government has announced a public inquiry into the 1989 killing of Pat Finucane, a Belfast lawyer whose death has long been associated with allegations of state collusion during Northern Ireland's turbulent period known as the Troubles. This decision comes 35 years after the incident, marking a significant shift in the government's approach to this controversial case.
Pat Finucane, who represented Irish Republican Army (IRA) suspects, was fatally shot by members of the Ulster Defense Association (UDA), a Protestant paramilitary group that was legal at the time but later banned in 1992. The murder occurred in front of Finucane's family during a Sunday dinner, with the lawyer being shot 14 times. This brutal act became one of the most high-profile killings of the Troubles, a period of conflict that lasted approximately 30 years and resulted in over 3,500 deaths.
Over the years, multiple investigations have pointed to British state involvement in Finucane's murder. The Stevens Inquiries, conducted between 1989 and 2003, and the de Silva Review in 2012 both confirmed significant state collusion. In 2003, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the UK had failed to properly investigate the death, further emphasizing the need for a thorough inquiry.
Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, addressed the House of Commons, stating, "The plain fact is that two decades on, the commitment made by the government to establish an inquiry into the death of Mr. Finucane remains unfulfilled." Benn emphasized the exceptional nature of the case as the reason for establishing an independent inquiry.
The announcement has been welcomed by John Finucane, the victim's son and a lawmaker for Sinn Fein, who expressed on social media that "After 35 years of cover-ups, it is now time for truth."
This inquiry is expected to be one of the most significant investigations into the legacy of the Troubles. It may reveal uncomfortable truths about the extent of UK government involvement in paramilitary activities during the conflict. Previous probes have uncovered evidence of the British army and police planting agents and recruiting informers within Northern Ireland paramilitary groups, some of whom allegedly committed serious crimes while working for the state.
While the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, signed 26 years ago, largely brought an end to the violence in Northern Ireland, the wounds inflicted during the Troubles remain raw for many who lost loved ones to the conflict. This inquiry represents a crucial step towards addressing these unresolved issues and potentially providing closure for the Finucane family and others affected by the violence.
"After 35 years of cover-ups, it is now time for truth."
The Pat Finucane Centre, a human rights advocacy group named after the murdered lawyer, continues to work towards justice and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. As this inquiry unfolds, it may not only shed light on the circumstances of Finucane's death but also contribute to a broader understanding of the complex relationships between state forces and paramilitary groups during one of the most tumultuous periods in Northern Ireland's history.