Letter to the Editor: Examining UK decision not to hold inquiry into Pat Finucane murder

Geraldine Finucane, widow of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, accompanied by her sons John (right) and Michael (second left) speaks with reporters outside the Supreme Court in central London, after the family lost a Supreme Court challenge over the decision not to hold a public inquiry into his killing, but won a declaration that an effective investigation into his death has not been carried out.

The British government’s decision not to order a public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989 precipitated an exchange in the British House of Commons between the Labour shadow Northern secretary Louise Haigh and the Northern secretary Brandon Lewis.

Ms Haigh said: “That this crime could happen at all in our country is shocking, that it has never been investigated to a lawful standard is unjustifiable and we have to ask ourselves, do we accept a lesser standard of justice for citizens of Northern Ireland than we would if this terrible crime had
happened in our constituencies?” (‘Decision not to hold inquiry into Pat Finucane murder ‘arrogant and cruel’,’ December 1). The short answer is yes, if those killed are Catholic and nationalist.