Finucane family hit out at inquiry

The family of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane has hit out at the government for not specifying that its proposed inquiry into the solicitor's death will be 'public' in character.

In a statement, Mr Finucane's family said the failure to announce a "public" inquiry meant that rather than the truth emerging, "what will emerge is cover up and lies".

Speaking on Thursday, Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said a tribunal would be tasked with uncovering the full facts of the killing and that it would be given "all of the powers and resources to fulfil that task".

However, because of the requirements of national security it would be necessary to hold the inquiry on the basis of new legislation to be introduced shortly, he added.

The Finucane family said it rejected this.

"The fact that Paul Murphy has announced the establishment of an enquiry is not the end of the matter," the family statement read.

"We have been asking for the truth to emerge for the last 15 years. There is no need for new legislation to protect the public interest or national security because the current law caters for this."

Sinn Féin National Chairperson, Mitchel McLaughlin said public interest demanded "full disclosure by the British government, its departments and agencies".

"The track record of successive British governments in dealing with the issue of collusion, and specifically the killing of Pat Finucane has been one of denial, concealment and cover up," Mr McLaughlin said.

"Any inquiry and the legislation it will be based on will be judged against its ability to uncover the full truth about collusion and the killing of Pat Finucane. Public interest demands full disclosure.

"Any effective inquiry requires that the British government, its departments and agencies co-operate fully.

"An informed judgement on the ability of this inquiry to delivery the truth can only be made when the legislation is published. In all of this Sinn Fein will continue to support the position of the family of Pat Finucane," the Foyle MLA added.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said that what Prime Minister Tony Blair promised and Judge Cory recommended was not what the Secretary of State announced on Thursday.

“There already is legislation to allow for a public inquiry with all the necessary safeguards," Mr Durkan said.

"There is no need for new legislation - unless the British government wants to put in place blanket restrictions to conceal the truth.

“The Finucane murder raises fundamental concerns about collusion and cover up. These issues cannot be addressed by an inquiry which itself could be shrouded in collusion and cover up."

However, DUP MP for Lagan Valley Jeffrey Donaldson said that the establishment of a public inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane should not lead to the thousands of innocent victims of the Troubles being forgotten.

Mr Donaldson said: “It is vital that the many innocent victims of terrorist violence over the last 30 years are not forgotten. Whilst much media focus is concentrated on cases such as that of the murder of Pat Finucane, there are literally thousands of other victims out there whose anguish is no lesser and whose cases have not yet been solved.

"The government must now seriously address our calls for a Victims Commissioner who could act as an advocate for victims by, for example, monitoring victims legislation and strategies, and liaise with victims groups in an attempt to assist them to secure funding or deal with their problems."

(MB/GMCG)