Finucane family welcomes European Court ruling

The family of murdered Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane has welcomed yesterday's judgement by the European Court of Human Rights that the investigation into his murder was "not effective".

Yesterday's ruling criticised the RUC's handling of the enquiry stating that the British Government had "failed to provide a prompt and effective investigation into the allegations of collusion by security personnel".

Speaking on behalf of the Finucane family, Michael Finucane, son of the

murdered solicitor and also a practising lawyer, said: "My family have never been afraid to put our case forward to be tested. Now, we have a judgment from the highest court in Europe that his right to life was violated.

"The UK have been found wanting because they did not properly protect his life nor investigate his death. It is easy to see why they didn't want to investigate this murder: they were the instigators and facilitators of it.

" The only way that the British Government can hope to reclaim any part of its shattered reputation is by establishing a full, independent judicial public inquiry without any further delay."

This call was echoed further by Sinn Féin Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin who said the verdict "was a vindication of the position adopted by the Finucane family". He added: "The identities of those involved in the killing of Pat Finucane are well known. The fact that agencies of the British State used the UDA to carry out this killing is beyond doubt.

"What is required now is a full independent judicial inquiry to establish exactly who authorised and planned this killing - where the chain of command leads.

"Sinn Féin will continue to highlight this issue and will continue to support the Finucane and family and others in their demand for full disclosure and the lid to be lifted on the collusion scandal."

Mr Finucane was shot dead in front of his wife and three children at their Belfast home in 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

His wife Geraldine subsequently criticised the RUC's investigation into her husband's death.

It later emerged during an investigation into alleged collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries that police and army had colluded with the UDA in Mr Finucane's death.

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