Summary

  • The Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has announced the establishment of an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane

  • The 39-year-old was shot by loyalist paramilitaries at his home in 1989 in front of his wife and children

  • Previous examinations of the case have found evidence of state collusion in the killing

  • Geraldine Finucane, Pat's wife, has told the press that it is 'time for truth' after her family's 'long journey'

  1. Thank you for joining uspublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 11 September

    Thank for joining us as a public inquiry was ordered into Pat Finucane's murder.

    Here's a quick recap of today's events:

    • NI Secretary Hilary Benn has announced a public inquiry into the 1989 murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane
    • First Minister Michelle O'Neill has welcomed the inquiry and says "today is a testament to the unwavering spirit and resolve" of the Finucane family
    • DUP leader Gavin Robinson says today's announcement "perpetuates a hierarchy" and sends the message "that this murder was more deserving of investigation than others"
    • Pat Finucane’s wife Geraldine, who was also wounded in the attack, said it has been a “long journey
    • Mrs Finucane added she believes this inquiry could be a "watershed moment in the difficult subject of legacy"
    • John Finucane said the family have "had to fight tooth and nail every step of the way"
    • He added it is not the end of their journey and that the "real battle" will begin

    This concludes our live coverage for today, but there is more on this story here.

    Pat FinucaneImage source, Pacemaker

    This page was edited by Matt Fox with additional reporting from Ashleigh Swan, Catherine Doyle and Barry O'Connor.

  2. Finucanes deserve our thanks, say victims' grouppublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 11 September

    The victims' group Relatives for Justice have praised the Finucane family's "tenacious, courageous and unending pursuit of truth and justice".

    The group posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Finucanes "deserve our thanks on this day"., external

  3. Conscious of other victims - Kenny Donaldsonpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 11 September

    Kenny Donaldson, the director of the South East Fermanagh Foundation victims' group, has told BBC News NI that he thinks the murder of Pat Finucane was "entirely wrong and without justification".

    However, he said, "we are very conscious that many other victims and survivors are watching events unfold".

    He said other victims will be "asking that obvious question" regarding "the amount of resourcing that has gone into this particular case", in comparison to their own.

    Kenny Donaldson, in grey coat with woods behind him.
  4. US Consulate 'welcome inquiry'published at 17:04 British Summer Time 11 September

    The US Consulate in Belfast has said it welcomes today’s commitment by the UK government to initiate a public inquiry into the 1989 murder of Pat Finucane.

    "We recognize the complexity in addressing the legacy of violence in Northern Ireland as well as the deep and enduring pain of those who lost loved ones," the consulate shared on X, external.

    "It is our hope that the inquiry and its findings will provide the information the Finucane family have been looking for."

    White house with fountain in frontImage source, Reuters
  5. 'We will be with them every step of the way' - Mary Lou McDonaldpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 11 September

    Also reacting to the news this afternoon is Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, who has said: "For decades the courageous family of Pat Finucane has led a dignified campaign seeking a public inquiry into his murder."

    "They never gave up. They never gave in. Today their determination, strength and love has secured that inquiry," she writes on social media.

    Mary Lou McDonald and John Finucane standing in front of a microphoneImage source, PA Media

    "My thoughts are with Pat’s wife, the indomitable Geraldine and their children, Katherine, Michael and John," McDonald adds.

    "The Finucanes have walked a long, hard road to truth and justice. I hope this will be the final length of the journey. We will be with them every step of the way."

  6. 'I hope they get what they have campaigned for' - Beattiepublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 11 September

    Doug Beattie wearing a navy coat, blue shirt and grey tie, he is wearing glassesImage source, PA Media

    In a social media post, the former UUP leader Doug Beattie said: "Every victim, and their families, deserve truth, justice and accountability.

    "I hope the Finucane family gets the information they have campaigned many years for."

  7. What was the de Silva review?published at 16:50 British Summer Time 11 September

    As we mentioned earlier, this inquiry will not be the first time Pat Finucane's murder has been examined.

    Earlier reports by Judge Cory and Lord Stevens found clear conclusions that were was collusion over the solicitor's murder, but there was still only limited information in the public domain.

    This led to former United Nations war crimes prosecutor Sir Desmond de Silva being asked by the government to carry out a review of all the existing documentation on Mr Finucane's murder.

    Sir Desmond de Silva holding up document entitled "The Report of the Patrick Finucane Review"Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Sir Desmond de Silva's report in 2012 confirmed that agents of the state were involved

    His report in 2012 confirmed agents of the state were involved in the 1989 killing and that it should have been prevented.

    It found RUC officers proposed Mr Finucane be killed, said they passed information to his killers, failed to stop the attack and then obstructed the murder investigation.

    It also found that an Army intelligence unit, the Force Reaction Unit, bore a degree of responsibility because one of its agents, Nelson, was involved in selecting targets.

    Sir Desmond found that there was "no overarching state conspiracy", but his report prompted the prime minister at the time, David Cameron, to apologise for "frankly shocking levels of collusion".

    The Finucanes argued that the report left many questions unanswered.

  8. 'Hugely significant but the real battle will begin'published at 16:44 British Summer Time 11 September

    The establishment of a public inquiry is 'hugely significant" and has to be welcomed, John Finucane added.

    He said the family look forward to engaging with an inquiry that is "credible".

    Finucane finished by saying that he knows it is not the end of their journey and that the "real battle" will begin, but highlighted that today is a "vindication" of his mother's strength and leadership.

    Geraldine wearing a green dress sitting next to John a suit looking out to pressImage source, PA Media
  9. 'People can make up their own minds'published at 16:40 British Summer Time 11 September

    John Finucane told reporters that other victims and survivors, like the Bloody Sunday families, have inspired him.

    "When I see other families, having worked tirelessly for decades, getting the answers they have fought for, that’s given us a boost," he said.

    John Finucane added that they helped in the “dark days” when he doubted today's announcement would come.

    "People can make up their own minds as to how the Finucane family have been treated," he said.

  10. "We have had to fight tooth and nail'published at 16:35 British Summer Time 11 September

    A member of the press asked the family for their thoughts on the other families who are not being granted an inquiry.

    He also asked how the family would respond to the suggestion that they have received "preferential treatment".

    John Finucane said he hears the term preferential treatment and finds it hard to indulge that with the experience his family have been through for 35 years.

    "Every single bit of progress we have had as a family had to be fought for, its never been handed to us," he said.

    "We have had to fight tooth and nail every step of the way."

    Geraldine in a green dress looking at her son John who is wearing a blue suit and speaking into a microphoneImage source, PA Media
  11. 'Let’s have some closure'published at 16:32 British Summer Time 11 September

    Talking about how today's announcement came about, Geraldine said the courts had "got fed up" with the UK government "delaying and delaying all the time".

    Geraldine also said the new government has "helped".

    "Hilary Benn seems like a genuine guy who wants to bring closure to a commitment made twice by previous governments."

    "Finally let’s have some closure on this," she added.

    Geraldine in a green dress with picture of her late husband pat behind her in a framed pictureImage source, PA Media
  12. Press conference comes to an endpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 11 September

    Stay with us while we bring you some further lines from the Finucane family.

  13. Looking forward to 'getting into the work'published at 16:26 British Summer Time 11 September

    "We find ourselves here today - over 35 years later with the British government accepting that there needs to be a full public inquiry," John Finucane says.

    "It's what we have always asked for and we look forward to getting into the work as soon as possible."

  14. Earlier inquiry would have been 'meaningless'published at 16:25 British Summer Time 11 September

    Responding to a BBC query on why the family has previously declined an inquiry, John Finucane says a previous government had "made it clear" they it intended to use a "a very restrictive mechanism under that legislation" which, in their analysis, would have rendered an earlier inquiry "meaningless".

    He says the family are looking forward to working with the current UK government on this.

    John Finucane
  15. An inquiry is the 'only place' to get to the truth - Geraldinepublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 11 September

    Mrs Finucane says her family has been campaigning for an inquiry because it's a forum that has the "ability to get to the truth".

    "People can be cross-examined, questions can be verified, facts can be established and an inquiry is the only place for that," she says.

    Mrs Finucane also says in previous reviews, "witnesses weren’t even called in some instances. If anyone was, they weren’t cross-examined".

    She adds: "People were excused, and the family had no input into that, so we had no idea what was going on”.

  16. "People who came up to me said keep going" - Geraldinepublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 11 September

    A member of the press has asked Geraldine what has kept her going throughout the process.

    Geraldine says: "I have a great family, great legal support, people from all around the world have sent me messages.

    "We have had representation from America, bipartisan support, that's what has kept us going, and people who have came up to me to say 'keep going, we need to know the truth'."

    Geraldine in a green dress with a toilet roll cleaning her nose while listening to the pressImage source, PA Media
  17. 'Watershed moment'published at 16:16 British Summer Time 11 September

    Geraldine Finucane says she believes this inquiry could be "a watershed moment in the difficult subject of legacy".

    "If a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane can finally publicly examine all of the collusion that plagued our society for so many years, then there is hope that the real process of healing can begin," she says.

    She adds it is "high time" the murder is "publicly examined and finally resolved".

    "It is time for truth."

    Geraldine wearing a green dress and wearing black glasses address press.Image source, PA Media
  18. 'A long journey' - Geraldine Finucanepublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 11 September

    Mr Finucane’s wife Geraldine, who was also wounded in the attack, says it has been a “long journey”.

    She said the family want to "expose the whole truth behind the murder of my husband".

    “Uncovering the truth” kept the family going, she adds.

    “It is the thing that has been missing all these years".

    Talking about previous governments' offers to look into the killing, Geraldine says the family "did not believe his murder was simply the act of gunmen".

    She says the family had no confidence that police investigations would ever bring those truly responsible to justice, and they were not satisfied with private, limited reviews from which they were excluded.

    Speaking emotionally, Geraldine thanks those who have helped the family in their campaign.

    "We would not be here today without them," she says.

  19. Family to speakpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 11 September

    We're about to hear from the Finucane family.

    You can watch the press conference under the Watch & Listen tab at the top of this page.

    Finucane family
  20. Tánaiste welcomes public inquirypublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 11 September

    Micháel MartinImage source, PA Media

    Posting on X, the Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micháel Martin said: "I welcome the decision to establish an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.

    "This case matters, first and foremost, to the Finucane family.

    "It also matters to those, on all sides, working for justice in Northern Ireland."