A step forward for the Finucane family

The family of murdered Belfast defence lawayer Pat Finucane has been granted a judicial review of the decision by the British government not to hold a public inquiry into his death.

High Court judge Ben Stephens granted the review today. The case will be heard at the Belfast High Court in May will last for three days.

Mr Finucane was killed at his north Belfast home by a British-directed loyalist death squad in 1989.

British prime minister David Cameron earlier this year accepted there had been collusion in the killing.

Mr Finucane’s widow Geraldine said: “I am very pleased that he has granted us leave to go forward to a full judicial review hearing and I think the significant aspect of it was that it was completely unopposed (by Britain).

“It was surprising but a very pleasant surprise for a change.”

There was widespread public outrage when late last year, Cameron brought the Finucane family to Downing Street to tell them only that a government lawyer would review the papers of the case, instead of ordering a full inquiry.

Mr Finucane’s widow Geraldine walked out of the meeting.

The British government had previously proposed to hold a limited inquiry under new restrictions aiming to prevent the release of information embarrassing to the British state.

The issue was discussed during a meeting in London yesterday [Thursday] between Cameron and the 26 County Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, a fact welcomed by Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams TD.

Speaking in the Dublin parliament this week, Deputy Adams had asked the Taoiseach to raise the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, the killing of 11 people in the Ballymurphy massacre of 1971 and the case of murdered human rights lawyer Pat Finucane with the British prime minister.

Mr Adams said: “The British government committed to an agreement with the Irish government, at Weston Park, to have an enquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, widely suspected to have been a victim of British state collusion.

“By refusing to have the enquiry Mr Cameron is in breach of an intergovernmental agreement. He needs to be pressed relentlessly and forcefully to honour this obligation,” Deputy Adams concluded.

Urgent Appeal