Martin backs Finucanes’ call for justice

THE Finucane family have been told the Government will continue to put pressure on the UK authorities to hold a public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

Mr Finucane’s widow Geraldine and son John met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Government Buildings in Dublin yesterday.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said Mr Martin had ‘committed’ to engaging with British prime minister Boris Johnson in advance of the court deadline of November 30 for the British to respond to a Supreme Court ruling made last year. It had said investigations into the shooting fell short of international human rights standards.

Pat Finucane, 39, was shot by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his family in 1989 amid claims of collusion with UK state security forces.

Northern Secretary Brandon Lewis has indicated a decision over how the UK government will proceed will be announced. John Finucane said: ‘The

Taoiseach was completely unambiguous. He fully supports our family, our campaign for a full inquiry and we’re very grateful for that.’

On Sunday, it emerged that four of the North’s political parties had written a joint letter to Mr Lewis urging a public inquiry. The letter – signed by Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Alliance and the Green Party – said holding a public i nquiry would provide t he UK government with an opportunity to restore wider confidence in the rule of law and the administration of justice.