Latest news with #PatFinucane
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Senior judge appointed to chair Finucane Inquiry
A senior judge has been appointed to chair an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Mr Finucane, 39, was shot dead at his family home in north Belfast in 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association in an attack found by a series of probes to have involved collusion with the state. His widow and the couple's three children have been campaigning for decades for a public inquiry to establish the extent of security force involvement. Last year Secretary of State Hilary Benn announced the UK Government would establish an independent inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death. It is to be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. On Friday morning, Mr Benn announced he has appointed Sir Gary Hickinbottom as chairman of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry. Sir Gary is the current president of the Welsh Tribunals and is a retired Court of Appeal Judge, who undertook the statutory inquiry into corruption and governance in the British Virgin Islands. Mr Benn has also appointed the former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland Baroness Nuala O'Loan as well as Francesca Del Mese as assessors to the inquiry. They are to provide advice to the chairman on their relevant expertise in regards to the inquiry, while also giving further assurance about the inquiry's independence. The next step in the process involves Mr Benn consulting with Sir Gary on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry. Mr Benn said he is confident the inquiry will provide answers to Mr Finucane's family. 'The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime, and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland,' he said. 'I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one, and I am confident that this inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly.' He added: 'I am delighted that Sir Gary Hickinbottom has accepted this important role as chair of the Patrick Finucane inquiry and that Baroness O'Loan and Francesca Del Mese have accepted the important roles of assessors to the inquiry. 'I am confident that, together, their valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the inquiry.' Sir Gary said he looks forward to meeting Mr Finucane's family as soon as possible. 'I am privileged to take on responsibility for leading this public inquiry into the important issues raised by the circumstances surrounding the murder of Patrick Finucane, something I will do not only in accordance with my statutory duties but as fairly, openly and transparently as I can,' he said. 'At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible.' Baroness O'Loan said: 'I look forward to taking up this role, having been appointed by the Secretary of State. 'The Finucane family has always been concerned that the full story of what happened should be told and this independent inquiry will provide the opportunity to do so. 'There remain unanswered questions and the public interest requires that we seek as best we can to get the answers to those questions.' Ireland's deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris welcomed the announcement. 'This is the final outstanding inquiry from those that were recommended by Judge Cory in 2004 and it is positive that it can now move to beginning its important and substantive work,' Mr Harris said. 'Today's announcement highlights the importance that a way forward is found to comprehensively address all the outstanding cases of the Troubles, in a way that is human rights compliant and that has the needs of victims and families at its heart. 'I continue to engage closely with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with this objective.'
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Senior judge to chair inquiry into murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane
A senior judge has been appointed to chair an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Mr Finucane (39) was shot dead at his family home in north Belfast in 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association in an attack found by a series of probes to have involved collusion with the British state. His widow and the couple's three children have been campaigning for decades for a public inquiry to establish the extent of security force involvement. Last year Secretary of State Hilary Benn announced the UK Government would establish an independent inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death. READ MORE It is to be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. On Friday morning, Mr Benn announced he has appointed Gary Hickinbottom as chairman of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry. Sir Gary is the current president of the Welsh Tribunals and is a retired Court of Appeal Judge, who undertook the statutory inquiry into corruption and governance in the British Virgin Islands. Mr Benn has also appointed the former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland Nuala O'Loan as well as Francesca Del Mese as assessors to the inquiry. The next step in the process involves Mr Benn consulting with Mr Hickinbottom on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry. Mr Benn said he is confident the inquiry will provide answers to Mr Finucane's family. 'The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime, and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland,' he said. Mr Hickinbottom said:'At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible.' —PA
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chair announced to lead Finucane inquiry
Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed by the government to chair the inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Last September, it was announced that an independent public inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death would be set up. The 39-year-old was shot at his home in Belfast by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his wife and children. Several examinations of the case have found evidence of state collusion in the killing. The Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said that the "exceptional reason" of outstanding and unfulfilled commitments by previous UK governments to establish a public inquiry meant it should proceed. The inquiry will be established under the 2005 Inquiries Act, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. Sir Gary is a former Court of Appeals judge who also chaired the Post Office Overturned Convictions Independent Pecuniary Losses Assessment Panel and the Horizon Convictions Redress Panel. The government has also confirmed the appointment of former Police Ombudsman Baroness Nuala O'Loan, and international human rights lawyer Francesca Del Mese, as assessors to the inquiry. Confirming the announcement via a written statement to parliament, Benn said: "The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. "I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one and I am confident that this Inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly." Benn said he was delighted that the chair had accepted the position. "I am confident that, together, their valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the Inquiry," he said. Sir Gary said he was "privileged" to take on responsibility for leading the public inquiry. "At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible," he added. The government said it will undertake a consultation exercise with the chair on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry, which will be agreed and published in due course. Pat Finucane was a well-known defence solicitor who frequently acted for high profile IRA members. He also represented loyalists in his work. In February 1989 he was shot 14 times by two gunmen. His wife, Geraldine, was also wounded. One of his sons is the Sinn Féin MP John Finucane. At an inquest into his death police refuted claims that Mr Finucane was in the IRA. In 2012, Sir Desmond de Silva's report into the murder found there was agent involvement and that police took no action on threat intelligence regarding Mr Finucane. Q&A: The murder of Pat Finucane As it happened: Public inquiry ordered into Pat Finucane's murder
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Pat Finucane: Chair announced to lead inquiry
Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed by the government to chair the inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat September, it was announced that an independent public inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death would be set up. The 39-year-old was shot at his home in Belfast by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his wife and examinations of the case have found evidence of state collusion in the killing. The Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said that the "exceptional reason" of outstanding and unfulfilled commitments by previous UK governments to establish a public inquiry meant it should inquiry will be established under the 2005 Inquiries Act, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on Gary is a former Court of Appeals judge who also chaired the Post Office Overturned Convictions Independent Pecuniary Losses Assessment Panel and the Horizon Convictions Redress government has also confirmed the appointment of former Police Ombudsman Baroness Nuala O'Loan, and international human rights lawyer Francesca Del Mese, as assessors to the inquiry. Confirming the announcement via a written statement to parliament, Benn said: "The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland."I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one and I am confident that this Inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly."Benn said he was delighted that the chair had accepted the position."I am confident that, together, their valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the Inquiry," he Gary said he was "privileged" to take on responsibility for leading the public inquiry."At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible," he government said it will undertake a consultation exercise with the chair on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry, which will be agreed and published in due course. Who was Pat Finucane? Pat Finucane was a well-known defence solicitor who frequently acted for high profile IRA also represented loyalists in his February 1989 he was shot 14 times by two wife, Geraldine, was also of his sons is the Sinn Féin MP John an inquest into his death police refuted claims that Mr Finucane was in the 2012, Sir Desmond de Silva's report into the murder found there was agent involvement and that police took no action on threat intelligence regarding Mr Finucane.
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Troubles legacy cost £601m so far, think tank says
The cost of dealing with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has reached at least £601m, a right-wing think tank Exchange, a critic of the government's legacy policies, says future costs could amount to a further £ biggest estimated future cost is £514m for a payment scheme for people bereaved in the Troubles.A bereavement scheme is not currently a Northern Ireland Executive policy as there is political division over who should qualify. The figures from the Policy Exchange think tank are based on 2024 prices and includes money already spent on inquiries, inquests, court cases and also estimates that the ongoing cost of legacy issues is anywhere from £238m - £739m. Future figures 'entirely speculative' There are caveats with the report's more than £2bn projected past and future cost breaks down into roughly £1bn previous spend and £1bn forecast previous spend includes the Bloody Sunday Inquiry from 2010, the cost of which has been increased by about £100m by building in inflation and converting it to 2024 report also includes aspects of police, Northern Ireland Office and Police Ombudsman budgets, which it could be argued is necessary spending and a £514m proposal for bereavement payments, which has not been approved and is not in Stormont's programme for Northern Ireland Executive has been asked for report's authors have also estimated the future cost of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and the public inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane, as well as potential compensation to former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, which the government has not yet approved.A UK government spokesperson told BBC News NI: "We do not recognise the basis of the figures for any future costs in this report, which are entirely speculative." 'Legalist approach' The think tank has criticised the government for repealing parts of the previous administration's Legacy a foreword to the paper, former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt says: "If the additional sums being committed by this government to legacy matters were genuinely helping to bring about peace and reconciliation, the country would pay them cheerfully."But there is scant evidence that this is the case; indeed, scant evidence that such factors are even being considered. "Rather, the approach to legacy appears at times to be being dictated by a maximalist approach to legalism, without regard to the underlying benefits or costs." 'Nobody takes cost into account' One of the authors of the report is historian and former Ulster Unionist councillor Jeffrey Dudgeon."Part of the problem now is that judges are ordering inquiries that will cost enormous amounts of money and they don't get asked in advance who will pay for the inquiry," Mr Dudgeon told the Good Morning Ulster programme."In England, judges have to take costs into account and here I've never been aware of any judicial inquiry being costed in advance."They've become politically motivated, they're not actually about the needs of bereaved families and the truth."He added: "Nobody takes cost into account in Northern Ireland, possibly because other people are going to have to pay for it." 'The reality of amnesties' Mr Dudgeon said he understood the idea of amnesties was hurtful for he said there had been few convictions for Troubles offences over the last 25 years."None of the political parties offered an alternative to the Legacy Act," he said"It's a standard act of government to put the past behind us and try and move forward."People are frightened here in Northern Ireland by the reality of amnesties."A UK government spokesperson told BBC News NI they are "committed to addressing the suffering of victims and survivors of the Troubles" in a way that is human rights compliant and proportionate. "The previous government set aside £250m over five years for the independent Commission and other legacy mechanisms and this government remains committed to that figure," they UK government is examining "all conceivable options" to lawfully address any potential compensation claims relating to historic Interim Custody Orders, they added.
