DETAILS OF FINUCANE CASE LEAKED OVER YEARS
FINUCANE CASE BECAME TOUCHSTONE FOR COLLUSION CLAIMS
Steven McCaffery, Press Association
11 January 2011
Press Association National Newswire
The family of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane have repeated their call for a fully independent inquiry into the case after it was confirmed they are in talks with the Government.
Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson said he had extended a consultation on the case by two months to facilitate the discussions, but the surprise announcement followed years of deadlock over one of the most controversial killings of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
The Army, police and intelligence service have been implicated in the 1989 murder, which was carried out by loyalist paramilitaries who doubled as security force agents.
The Finucane family rejected efforts by the previous Labour government to conduct an investigation under the 2005 Inquiries Act and claimed it gave ministers undue influence over the outcome.
Mr Paterson had declared an interest in resolving the Finucane case, but while many observers believed the new Government would opt to draw a line under the issue, details have now emerged of efforts to broker an inquiry acceptable to both sides.
In separate statements the Secretary of State said there had been "useful" discussions, while solicitors for the Finucane family confirmed there had been "constructive" dialogue, but both signalled that an agreed way forward had not yet been reached.
Mr Paterson said: "In my written statement of November 11, I set out a period of two months during which I would receive representations as to whether it is in the public interest that I should establish a public inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane.
"As part of this process, my officials have had a constructive meeting with representatives of the Finucane family and a further meeting will be arranged.
"In light of the fact that useful discussions are under way between the family and the Government, I have decided, with the agreement of the family, to extend the period during which I will receive representations by two months."
Mr Paterson said he will then consider if it is in the public interest to hold an inquiry into Mr Finucane's murder.
Sections of the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries had labelled the Catholic solicitor an IRA member. The allegation has been denied by the Finucane family, who have said the police and Army wrongly associated the lawyer with the alleged crimes of his clients.
In a statement the family's lawyers, Madden & Finucane, said further discussions were needed if their goal of an independent inquiry was to be reached.
"The Finucane family have campaigned for 21 years for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Pat," they said.
"The essence of a proper inquiry is independence.
"The family's legal team, led by Peter Madden of Madden & Finucane, met with the NIO (Northern Ireland Office) legal team in London in April last year and the discussions then were worthwhile.
"However, due to the pending general election at that time, a further meeting was postponed.
"The Madden & Finucane legal team met the Secretary of State's advisers last Thursday, January 6, and again the discussions were constructive."
Mr Madden, a former friend and colleague of the murdered solicitor, said: "Although these were constructive and useful meetings, the fact remains that the independence of a tribunal is fundamental.
"It is hoped that the family's concerns will be addressed and that a mechanism will be established which would result in a public judicial inquiry fully independent, which will have the support of the Finucane family, and all those who have supported the family in their long campaign."
Members of the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name for the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), shot the solicitor 14 times in front of his wife and three children as they ate dinner at their north Belfast home in February 1989.
But security forces are accused of inciting the killers and using agents to carry out the murder, before covering their tracks.
Sinn Fein said government made a commitment in 2004 to hold an inquiry and said the family deserved "truth and justice". But the DUP objected to what they said could be a replay of the costly Saville Inquiry into the British Army's Bloody Sunday shootings in Londonderry.
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