For those of you just joining us, 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
• Hilary Benn says there is an "exceptional reason" due to unfulfilled commitments by previous UK governments
• Mr Finucane's son John, who is the MP for north Belfast, says the announcement was "very much welcomed by our family"

• 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"
• The announcement has been welcomed by Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris who says the Irish government "stands ready" to work with Westminster

We're expecting to hear more from the Finucane family shortly as they address reporters in Belfast. Stay with us for the latest.

Pat Finucane's son Michael thanks those that have supported the family.

"After 35 years of campaigning worldwide, the Finucane family finally get to say it: there will be a statutory public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane," he writes on X., external

"We could not have done it without the help from so many people, who recognised the importance of exposing the truth behind the murder of Pat Finucane," he adds.

"This is a good day for transparency and accountability. We hope it is the first of many, as we progress into a full inquiry."

Hilary Benn's oral statement to parliament has been published, in full, on the UK government's website.

You can read that here., external

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA

The inquiry will "hopefully bring accountability for those involved", the Alliance Party's Nuala McAllister says.

It was "always necessary" in this case, she says, "given the serious public interest issues involved and the government’s acceptance that collusion played a part”.

Nuala McAllister points out that, given the Supreme Court previously stated that investigations had not been effective, she hopes "we receive clarity soon" in terms of [the inquiry's] "ability to compel witnesses and evidence".

“This once again shines a light on the pressing need for a sensitive, all-encompassing government strategy on dealing with our troubled past," the North Belfast MLA says.

"The secretary of state must outline urgently how the detested Legacy Act will be repealed and replaced,” she adds.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister asked the Commons whether there had ever been a family given more "preferential" treatment.

Jim Allister said the family had received a prime ministerial apology, multiple investigations and now an "uncapped public inquiry".

"After that family rejected previous government offers of inquiries," he said.

The "tragic take away" from the secretary's statement for victims is that the ICRIR is "good enough for them but not for the Finucane family", he said.

Jim Allister asked Hilary Benn why he is "perpetuating odious hierarchy of victims".

The NI Secretary replied: "I am not, is the answer."

Image source, PA Media

The SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has also welcomed the decision to hold a public inquiry.

Colum Eastwood says he wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month, urging him to call a public inquiry.

"Calling a public inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane is long overdue but it remains the right and just course of action," he says.

Eastwood says he is pleased for the Finucane family, who he says "will now get the investigation they should have had decades ago".

"This must be a turning point for legacy investigations. It should be the moment where we agree to deal with the past comprehensively and ethically," he adds.

In response to Sammy Wilson, Hilary Benn says: "I recount some of the terrible murders and I myself have met the only survivor of the Kingsmill massacre."

"I would say first of all, considerable resources are now being given to the independent commission and it is important to recognise that.

"The second is, in this particular case there was a commitment made twice, I think it is important that we honour it."

DUP MP Sammy Wilson tells the Commons: "This is a bad decision today. It will cause anger and further hurt for the many hundreds of families who have not had justice for the murder of their loved ones.

"How does he justify to the hundreds of families that there will be no such resources placed in seeking out the truth of their family members?"

Image source, Reuters

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris says he welcomes the decision of the UK government to establish a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.

"Today is a vindication of Geraldine Finucane and her family who have campaigned over decades for truth and justice," the taoiseach shares in a statement.

“This is the beginning of a process and it will be important that, as details are confirmed, there is confidence that it can meet the standards and independence thresholds essential to an inquiry of this nature," he adds.

Simon Harris continues: “The prime minister is committed to finding a new approach to legacy issues in Northern Ireland, and today’s decision by the British government is in keeping with the spirit of that commitment."

He adds that the Irish government "stand ready" to work with the UK government on legacy issues.

Julian O'Neill
BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent

This has long been one of the most controversial killings of the Troubles.

Examinations of the case have established that there was collusion.

There were two state agents within the UDA that were involved in his murder.

The Finucane family have long campaigned for a public inquiry to get to the bottom of the full extent of the collusion. They believe it went all the way up to the British cabinet.

As far as the government is concerned, this is the fulfilment of a commitment which was first made in 2001, as a result of negotiations between the British and Irish governments, which has, until this moment in time, remained unfulfilled.

Robin Swann from the Ulster Unionist Party asked Hilary Benn to clarify that he has ended any opportunity for other families and loved ones across Northern Ireland who hope out for a public inquiry?

He asks him to clarify also that they will be directed to the ICRIR, which he says is, "an organisation that doesn't have the full support of the communities of Northern Ireland".

Mr. Benn replied: "It should not be the only opportunity open to them".

"I agree it would be quite wrong to say there is only one route, denying people, families the rights to inquests and civil cases that apply in all other parts of the United Kingdom that was one of the things of the Legacy Act that was so profoundly wrong," he adds.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson says the granting of an inquiry "will heap further hurt" on the families who have never had anyone convicted of their loved one’s murder.

Robinson says: "The murder of Pat Finucane, like all murders in the Troubles, was wrong. In 2004, a man was convicted and sentenced for his role in the murder and more than £20m has been spent on investigations into this one murder."

He says the NI Secretary "needs to understand that there are more than 1000 other families in the United Kingdom who have not had a fraction of the resource poured into the murder of their loved on".

Today's announcement "perpetuates a hierarchy" and sends the message "that this murder was more deserving of investigation than others", he adds.

Image source, PA Media

In June 1999 a former UDA quartermaster and ex-Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Special Branch agent, William Stobie, was charged with murdering Mr Finucane.

Mr Stobie admitted supplying a weapon used in the killing, but denied murder.

Just over two years later, the case against him collapsed due to the refusal of a key witness to give evidence.

Mr Stobie walked free from court but within weeks was shot dead outside his home by loyalist gunmen.

In May 2003 the loyalist Ken Barrett was arrested and charged with the murder of Mr Finucane.

Barrett, who drove the getaway car, later confessed and was sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment in September 2004.

He was freed two years later under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Image source, PA Media

A moment ago we heard from the shadow NI Secretary, Conservative MP Alex Burghart, who asked Hilary Benn what is it that a full public inquiry can do that ICRIR (Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery) cannot.

The ICRIR is a recently-established body which is accepting requests for investigations into UK-wide incidents, including during the Troubles, in which people were killed or seriously injured, between 1 January 1966 and 10 April 1998.

He added, given the thousands of Troubles-related killings, he fears of setting a precedent for inquiries.

Hilary Benn responded by saying that what is unique about this case is the,"commitment given on two previous occasions" that there would be a public inquiry.

Mr Finucane's case does not set a precedent, he added.

Image source, PA Media

John Finucane, the Sinn Féin MP for Belfast North and son of Pat Finucane, has posted on X following the decision.

"Today is for my father, Pat Finucane," he said.

"The announcement that there will now be a public inquiry into his murder is very much welcomed by our family. Led by my mother Geraldine, we have campaigned for decades to uncover the truth behind my father’s murder."

"I want to thank every person who has supported our campaign throughout those years."

"Today belongs to us all. After 35 years of cover-ups, it is now time for truth."

Image source, PA

The Sinn Féin vice-president and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle has posted on X about the decision.

"I welcome the announcement that the Finucane family has secured a public inquiry into the killing of their beloved father and husband, Pat Finucane," she said.

"Today is a testament to the unwavering spirit and resolve of Pat’s wife, Geraldine, and their children, Katherine, Michael, and John.

"The Finucane family’s determination and dignity throughout 35 years of the most difficult of campaigning has brought about this landmark day.

"Their campaign has been an inspiration to all families struggling for truth and justice. I will continue to support the Finucane family as they continue on their journey towards truth and justice for Pat."

Hilary Benn says in making this decision he has "considered the likely costs and impact on the public finances".

"It is the government’s expectation that the inquiry will - while doing everything that is required to discharge the state’s human rights obligations - avoid unnecessary costs," he says, adding there is already a large amount of information in the public domain.

In 1989, Metropolitan Police Commissioner John Stevens was appointed to investigate claims of collusion between state forces and loyalist paramilitaries in numerous killings.

His investigations lasted 14 years and, in Mr Finucane's case, he identified the involvement of two agents within the UDA, Brian Nelson and William Stobie, who are both now deceased.

At the Weston Park political talks in 2001, the government agreed to hold a public inquiry, if recommended by a retired Canadian judge it appointed to examine the case.

Judge Peter Cory issued a report in 2004, stating there was "strong evidence" of collusion, including MI5 being aware Mr Finucane was under threat, and found an inquiry was necessary.

But its establishment was delayed on two fronts - the prosecution of Ken Barrett, identified by the Stevens' Inquiry as the gunmen's getaway driver, who had been recruited as a police informer after the murder - and new legislation covering public inquiries, which allowed ministers to restrict evidence.

Image source, Pacemaker

In 2019, the UK Supreme Court found there had never been an adequate investigation,, external but stopped short of ordering a public inquiry, ruling it was for the state "to decide what form of investigation is required."

A year passed, prompting another court case, aimed at forcing the government to address the Supreme Court's findings.

In October 2020, a lawyer for Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, told a court that a decision would be made before the end of November on whether or not to hold a public inquiry.

On 30 November 2020, NI Secretary Brandon Lewis announced that a public inquiry would not be held at this time and that other review processes by the PSNI and Police Ombudsman had to run their course.

However, in April 2021 Mr Finucane's widow Geraldine was granted leave to seek a judicial review of the decision.

The new Labour government faced a decision over continuing calls by the family to launch an inquiry.

Mr Benn says he hopes the inquiry will "finally provide the information the Finucane family have sought for so long".

The government will now seek to appoint a chair for the inquiry and establish its "terms of reference as soon as possible", the NI Secretary adds.