Human rights lawyers support inquiry into Finucane killing

The US-based Lawyers Committee for Human Rights has called for a full public inquiry into the murder of Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane in Belfast 13 years ago.

In a report published today, the committee claims the RUC withheld information from the three previous investigations into the murder, led by British Police Commissioner John Stevens.

The report also says that the Irish and British Government’s decision to appoint an independent judge to investigate the 1989 killing will delay the emergence of the truth about the murder.

There have long been allegations that the British army and the RUC colluded with the loyalist paramilitaries who shot Mr Finucane dead in front of his family on February 12th, 1989, exactly 13 years ago.

Mr Finucane had represented a number of republicans in cases taken against the British authorities. Today’s report by the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights says the investigations to date have not satisfied international law because those in ultimate charge of the inquiry – the RUC - were also implicated in the killing.

The LCHR called for the immediate establishment of a public inquiry because evidence and witnesses are disappearing while the Irish and British Governments drag their feet.