Pat Finucane

For other people named Patrick Finucane, see Patrick Finucane (disambiguation).

Pat Finucane
Pat Finucane
Born
Patrick Finucane

(1949-03-21)21 March 1949
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died12 February 1989(1989-02-12) (aged 39)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityIrish
OccupationHuman rights lawyer
Known forMurder by Ulster loyalists in 1989
RelativesJohn Finucane (son)

Patrick Finucane (/fɪˈnuːkən/; 21 March 1949 – 12 February 1989)[1][2] was a Northern Irish lawyer who specialised in criminal defence work. Finucane came to prominence due to his successful challenge of the British government in several important human rights cases during the 1980s.[3] He was killed by loyalist paramilitaries from the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), acting in collusion with British security services. In 2011, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, met with Pat Finucane's family and apologised for the collusion.[4][5]

Finucane's killing was one of the most controversial during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.[6] He was shot fourteen times as he sat eating a meal at his Belfast home with his three children and his wife, who was also wounded during the attack.[7] In September 2004, Ken Barrett, an UDA member who was recruited as an informer by the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Special Branch after confessing to the shooting, pleaded guilty to his murder.[8][9]

After significant international pressure, the British government eventually announced a public inquiry. This was one result of the agreement made between the British and Irish governments at Weston Park in 2001. They agreed to appoint an international judge that would review Finucane's case and if evidence of collusion was found, a public inquiry would be recommended.[10] The British government reneged on this promise to Finucane's family after the international judge found evidence of collusion.[4] Finucane's wife Geraldine declared in court papers that Cameron stated, at a meeting with Finucane's family in London, that: "It is true that the previous administration could not deliver a public inquiry and neither can we. There are people in buildings all around here who won't let it happen."[11]

Two public investigations concluded that elements of the British security forces colluded in Finucane's murder and there have been high-profile calls for a public inquiry. However, in October 2011, it was announced that a planned public inquiry would be replaced by a less wide-ranging review. This review, led by Sir Desmond de Silva, released a report in December 2012 acknowledging that the case entailed "a wilful and abject failure by successive Governments".[12][13] Finucane's family called the De Silva report a "sham".[14]

  1. ^ Cobain, Ian (19 September 2016). "Secrecy and Northern Ireland's Dirty War: the murder of Pat Finucane". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hansard 1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Interview with Geraldine Finucane: Breaking the glass ceiling". Politico.ie. 11 January 2007.
  4. ^ a b Cory, Peter. "Cory Collusion Inquiry Report: Patrick Finucane", p.107. 1 April 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  5. ^ "The Murder of Pat Finucane". Pat Finucane Inquiry Campaign. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Timeline of Finucane murder probe". BBC News. 23 September 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  7. ^ "Pat Finucane: A controversial killing". BBC News. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Loyalist informer admits Finucane murder". The Guardian. 12 September 2004.
  9. ^ Cowan, Rosie (14 January 2002). "Special branch 'recruited solicitor's killer'". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "Statement of Geraldine Finucane". US Congressional Hearing on Human Rights in Northern Ireland, 16 March 2005. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  11. ^ "'Mystery intervention' against Pat Finucane inquiry". Belfast Telegraph. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  12. ^ De Silva, Rt. Hon. Sir Desmond (12 December 2012). "Pat Finucane Review: Executive Summary And Principal Conclusions". Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  13. ^ Bowcott, Owen (12 December 2012). "Pat Finucane report: army handlers 'helped loyalist gunmen select targets'". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  14. ^ Bowcott, Owen (12 December 2012). "Pat Finucane's family denounce report as a 'sham'". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 December 2012.