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Four parties in Stormont have asked the British government to reconsider the decision not to conduct a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.
The failure of an immediate investigation has been called an insult by the family of the late Belfast lawyer, who was shot to death by loyalist paramilitaries colluding with the British state in 1989.
The Taoiseach said today that the British government’s decision not to carry out an investigation was “arrogant and cruel.”
On Monday, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said he would not remove a public inquiry from the table, but said further examinations of the case by police and a police watchdog should conclude first.
Finucane, 39, who represented Republican and loyalist paramilitaries during the conflict, was shot dead at his family’s home in North Belfast in February 1989 by the Ulster Defense Association (UDA) in an attack. which involved collusion with the British state.
All four parties wrote to Lewis when Finucane’s son John signaled his intention to win the support of US President-elect Joe Biden.
Mr. Martin also indicated that he would raise the issue with Mr. Biden.
The letter signed by Michelle O’Neill from Sinn Féin, Colum Eastwood from SDLP, Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry, and Clare Bailey from the Green Party urged rethinking.
They said the British government’s decision was “not a credible or sustainable position.”
“It was an insult to the Finucane family,” added senior party figures.
“His approach to this matter is now a matter of great public concern.
“To avoid a public investigation, he has clearly made a calculated decision to embark on a high-risk distraction strategy that now places the Police Ombudsman Office and the PSNI in the middle of a historic murder investigation at one point. in that the intention is to eliminate the legacy of surveillance.
“His suggested approach potentially jeopardizes increased trust in the rule of law and the administration of justice.”
The issue has divided political opinion in Northern Ireland and several unionist politicians have welcomed the British government’s decision, arguing that a public inquiry is not justifiable when so many other grieving families remain waiting for answers.
Read more:
British Government: No public inquiry into Finucane ‘at this time’
‘We’re very angry’ – Finucane family over UK investigative decision
On Tuesday, DUP MLA Paul Givan told the Stormont Assembly that the pain felt by the Finucane family was also felt by many other families.
“Of course the Pat Finucane murder was wrong,” he said.
“I recognize the barbaric nature of the situation, as he was killed in front of his family. One can only imagine the trauma he has caused and it is clearly evident to this day, 31 years later.
“That pain is felt by thousands of people across Northern Ireland. I think of La Mon. I think of Bloody Friday. I think of Enniskillen and Narrow Water (all the IRA atrocities). The list goes on of thousands of people who suffer as a result of the terrorist campaign of more than 30 years in this country.
“Many of those families have only had a simple desk exercise done by the Historical Investigations Team (HET).”
Givan said that multiple investigations had been conducted into the circumstances of Finucane’s murder.
“Thousands of victims of terrorism could only wish that there had been the same level of questioning about the murder of their loved ones,” he said.
“The victims have heard aloud the special status accorded to the Finucane family by a number of political parties in this House and, indeed, by other international political figures.”
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