Solicitor’s murder case to be reopened

THE SON of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane yesterday welcomed a decision by the Council of Europe to reopen his father’s case.

John Finucane, Sinn Fein MP for North Belfast, said the decision to look again at the killing in the European Court of Human Rights was a “hugely significant move”.

The 47-nation council, which oversees the implementation of the court’s judgements, has also called on UK authorities to step up efforts to conclude all legacy killing inquests within five years.

Pat Finucane, 39, who represented republican and loyalist paramilitaries during the conflict, was shot dead in his family home in North Belfast in 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association in an attack found to have involved collusion with the State.

His son welcomed the decision to reopen his father’s case, calling it a “hugely significant” move, which will advance calls for a public inquiry into his father’s murder.

He said: “It’s very unusual for the Council of Europe to reopen an investigation.

“We have been hopeful as a family that they would do that but we certainly weren’t complacent.

“This is a result of efforts not just by my family but also by the Irish Government and I want to thank them for their efforts in that regard.”

The decision to reopen the case, published yesterday, was made “to supervise the ongoing measures to ensure that they are adequate, sufficient and proceed in a timely manner”.

The council has invited the authorities to clarify how the ongoing police and Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland processes will proceed “promptly and in line with convention standards”.

UK authorities have also been called on by the Council of Europe to step up efforts to reach its targets of concluding all legacy killing inquests within five years.