Pat Finucane

Pat Finucane was a Belfast lawyer murdered by loyalist paramilitaries on 12 February 1989, for defending members of the IRA in court. His murder is widely believed to have been perpetrated at the instigation of RUC Special Branch officers. He was shot 14 times in front of his family, by two masked men. A member of the Ulster Defence Regiment was later convicted of supplying one of the pistols used to kill him. The paramilitaries belonged to the Ulster Defence Association, which at the time was a legal organisation under British law.

Related Topics:
Belfast - Loyalist - 12 February - 1989 - IRA - RUC - Special Branch - Ulster Defence Regiment - Ulster Defence Association - British law

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In 2000, Amnesty International demanded that the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, open a public inquiry into events surrounding his death. In 2001 as a result of the Weston Park talks, a retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory was appointed by the British and Irish governments to investigate the allegations of collusion by the RUC and the British army in the murder of Finucane and three other individuals during the Troubles. He reported in April 2004 and recommended a public enquiry be established in the case of the Finucane murder.

Related Topics:
2000 - Amnesty International - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - Peter Mandelson - 2001 - Peter Cory - British - Irish - Collusion - British army - Troubles - 2004

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An inquiry has since been announced by the British government, but under the Inquiries Act 2005, which empowers the government to block scrutiny of state actions. Finucane's family have criticised its limited remit and announced that they would not co-operate with it. Amnesty have reiterated their call for an independent inquiry, and have called on members of the British judiciary not to serve on the inquiry if it is held under the terms of the Act http://web.amnesty.org/pages/gbr-030605-action-eng. Finucane's widow Geraldine has written letters repeating this request to all the senior judges in Britain, and took out a full-page advertisement in the London newspaper, the Times, to draw attention to the campaign.

Related Topics:
British government - Inquiries Act 2005 - Britain - London - Times

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