12/02/2009

Call For Answers, As Finucane Vigil Is Held

A candle-lit vigil was held in Belfast last night to mark 20 years since the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane.

Mr Finucane was gunned-down at home in front of his wife and young family in what is now believed to have been a state-sanctioned attack.

Last night, the 39-year-old solicitor's relatives again called for an independent inquiry into his death.

During his career, Mr Finucane had represented a number of high-profile alleged IRA terrorists.

His family have always denied Mr Finucane was an IRA supporter.

An investigation by retired Met chief Lord Stevens found that there had been security force collusion in the murder.

His investigation was prompted by recommendation made by Canadian judge Peter Cory in 2004.

Police have since discovered that the UDA man who pulled the trigger was an informer for the RUC Special Branch, as was the man who provided him with the murder weapon.

A British Army agent also scouted the house to prepare for the killing.

Offers of a public inquiry into the murder by the British government have been rejected by the Finucane family, who claim, under the Inquiries Act, the government could censor information.

Amnesty International has launched a campaign for a fully independent inquiry into the murder, one of the most controversial of the Troubles.

Last night, Mr Finucane's son John said: "Twenty years on, I'm overwhelmed by the amount of people who have come out to remember him and support us as a family in what we've been trying to achieve."

(PR/JM)

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26 November 2001
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