Patrick Finucane Murder

In a statement to the House of Commons, the minister addressed the long-standing case of the murder of Patrick Finucane, a human rights lawyer who was brutally killed in 1989 by a loyalist paramilitary group in front of his family. The minister acknowledged the Finucane family's tireless campaign for answers and the various investigations and reviews that have been conducted over the years, including the 2004 recommendation by Judge Peter Cory for a public inquiry into the case. The minister noted that despite the 2003 investigation by Sir John Stevens concluding that there had been state collusion in Finucane's killing, and the 2012 apology by the then-Prime Minister citing "shocking levels of state collusion," the government had been unable to reach an agreement with the Finucane family on the arrangements for an inquiry. However, the minister stated that the government now takes its human rights obligations and responsibilities towards victims and survivors of the Troubles extremely seriously. Citing the 2019 Supreme Court ruling that the previous investigations had been insufficient to enable the state to discharge its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, the minister announced that the government has decided to establish an independent inquiry into Finucane's death under the Inquiries Act 2005. The minister emphasized that this decision was made after considering the likely costs and impact on public finances, as well as the possibility of referring the case to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. The minister acknowledged the trauma experienced by those who lost loved ones during the Troubles and expressed the hope that the inquiry will finally provide the information the Finucane family has sought for so long. The minister also paid tribute to the work of the armed forces, police, and security services during that time, many of whom sacrificed their lives in protecting others. In conclusion, the minister stated that the government will seek to appoint a chair of the inquiry and establish its terms of reference as soon as possible, and that further updates will be provided to the House.