Varadkar calls on UK to hold inquiry into 1989 murder of Pat Finucane
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has called on the British government to honour its commitment to hold an independent public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.
It came after Mr Finucane’s family lost a UK Supreme Court challenge over the decision not to hold a public inquiry into his killing, but won a declaration that an effective investigation into his death has not been carried out.
Mr Finucane was 39 when he was shot dead in front of his family in February 1989 by loyalists, in an attack found to have involved collusion with the state.
His widow, Geraldine, claimed the British government unlawfully “reneged” on a promise to hold a public inquiry into the killing when former prime minister David Cameron instead ordered an independent review.
An investigation by former UN war crimes prosecutor Desmond de Silva QC found “shocking” levels of state collusion involving the army, police and MI5, but ruled out an “overarching state conspiracy”.
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Ms Finucane had been given “an unequivocal undertaking to hold a public inquiry into Mr Finucane’s death”, but that the “change of heart on the part of the government” was made in good faith and was a matter of “political judgment”.
But the court also ruled that the De Silva review was not compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights, which required the investigation to be provided with “the means where, if they can be, suspects are identified and, if possible, brought to account”.
It declared that there has not been an effective investigation into Mr Finucane’s murder, but added that it did not follow that a public inquiry must be ordered. “It is for the state to decide... what form of investigation, if indeed any, is now feasible,” the ruling added.
Speaking outside the court, Ms Finucane said: “This is a historic moment. I stand before you today outside the
United Kingdom Supreme Court with one simple message: we won.
“The British government now knows that it cannot conceal the truth any longer. They have now been told this by the highest court in the land.
“It is time for the murder of Pat Finucane to be properly and publicly investigated in a public inquiry. Nothing less will suffice.”
In the Dáil, Mr Varadkar called the ruling “very significant”.
He added: “The position of the Irish Government is that the British government should now honour its commitment to carry out a public inquiry in accordance with the Inquiries Act.”