Statement by Minister Coveney on Pat Finucane decision by SoSNI

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The Government has noted the announcement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the steps that the British Government intends to take to respond to the February 2019 UK Supreme Court judgement in the case of Pat Finucane.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, said:

“It has been the strong and consistent position of the Irish Government that only a full and independent public inquiry, as provided for under the Weston Park agreement in 2001, would provide a satisfactory outcome to this case.

We are disappointed that the opportunity was not taken today to establish such an inquiry without further delay.  However, we note that the Secretary of State has not ruled out the holding of such an inquiry.

In a case like this, in which Prime Minister Cameron acknowledged that there were ‘shocking levels of collusion’, there is an undeniable onus on the state to do everything possible to restore public confidence through a process that fully meets relevant international standards and obligations of effectiveness, independence and transparency.

I have conveyed to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland our disappointment that an inquiry has not been established and made clear that it remains the position of the Government that only through a full and independent public inquiry will a satisfactory resolution to this case be found.

We will study the detail of the announcement by the Secretary of State in full.  We will also ask to meet again with the Finucane family to hear their perspective and concerns.  We will then be engaging further with the UK Government on this case.”

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