Taoiseach told British PM of support for Finucanes

TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny said he had not changed his mind on his demand for an inquiry into the killing of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

“All parties in the House unanimously called for an inquiry based on the findings of Judge Peter Cory and the wishes of the family,” he added. “That is the position.”

Mr Kenny said he had spoken to British prime minister David Cameron earlier yesterday about the meeting with the Finucane family.

Mr Cameron, he added, had indicated to him it was his intention to get to the truth of the matter as quickly as possible and issue an apology in respect of Mr Finucane’s death. He had also indicated what he proposed to say to the Finucane family.

“I indicated to him that the House unanimously supported Geraldine Finucane in her search for truth and the issues surrounding the death of her husband, Pat,” the Taoiseach added.

When the meeting concluded, the prime minister’s office informed the Department of the Taoiseach of the outcome, and he understood it was not satisfactory for the Finucane family.

“I indicated quite clearly to the prime minister that if Geraldine Finucane was not happy with what was on offer we would not be happy either,” said Mr Kenny.

He added he had spoken with Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore who would, in due course, invite Ms Finucane and her family to the House for a discussion on the meeting and where to go from there.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said it was his understanding that Ms Finucane had cut the meeting short. He added that he had spoken to successive British prime ministers about the issue.

“We need to understand the nub of the issue,” he said.

“Nothing like the Pat Finucane case illustrates the amount of collusion that took place during the conflict.”

He said the current British government had played no part in that collusion, “therefore Mr Cameron should be liberated to do what was promised to the family at Weston Park”.

Mr Adams said that while he appreciated and accepted entirely the Taoiseach’s commitment to a full inquiry for the Finucane family, the Government must press the issue hard.

“Once again, the British government is looking to play a long game on the issue and it is not fair,” he added.

“It would not be fair for any victim of the conflict and it is certainly not fair when the victim is an officer of the court, a human rights lawyer and a person whom it is rightly suspected, and there is a lot of evidence to support this, was killed by agents of the British Crown.”

Mr Kenny said the truth in such matters was sacrosanct and central to a conclusion.

“I respect the prime minister’s wish that there should be the truth arrived at in the shortest possible time and, obviously, that an apology be issued to those bereaved by the loss of their father and husband,” he added.

Mr Kenny said: “Insofar as the Government is concerned, once the Finucane family are not happy with what is on offer, we stand by our decision before of continuing to look for an inquiry in this matter”.