Hilary Benn, the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, made an announcement in the House of Commons concerning a complete public investigation into the assassination of Pat Finucane in 1989. Predicting a question from the opposition Tories and Unionists, he defended the decision against just leaving the matter to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). Although he expressed complete faith in the newly established UK government institution dedicated to investigating the Troubles, he stated that the case of Finucane held unique attributes.
Finucane was a Belfast lawyer who was murdered by the UDA in compliance with British government forces, an incident that his family has been persistently trying to uncover for 35 years, despite hitting numerous roadblocks from the British government. Benn recalled that the British government had twice pledged in the last Labour administration under Tony Blair, over two decades ago, to initiate an investigation, but the promise was never carried out.
Benn’s decision to launch an independent inquiry into the matter was based on this background. While understanding the need to enhance the ICRIR’s autonomy, he was confident in its ability to function. The commission is fully staffed and ready for cases. Other families are expected to use its services, but the public inquiry that the Finucane family has long demanded will take a considerable time to commence.
Questions were raised by Alex Burghart, the Conservative party’s shadow secretary of state, about what a public inquiry could accomplish that the ICRIR couldn’t, stating concerns about public investigations becoming common. Julian Smith, a Conservative colleague who had previously held Benn’s post, voiced concerns for other families still waiting for their cases to be attended to by the commission.
In expressing his opinion, the Leader of the DUP, Gavin Robinson, mentioned he had no intention of disparaging the sorrow of the Finucane family. However, he did note that there are 1,200 additional families that have been bereaved due to the Troubles, who still await truth and justice. He questioned how Benn can dismiss the existence of preferential treatment for certain victims. His fellow DUP member, Sammy Wilson emphasised the pain and resentment that many other families may feel.
A staunch unionist from TUV, Jim Allister, sternly criticised Benn’s decision, asserting that a family has never been more favoured than the Finucanes, a statement that sparked murmurs of disagreement in the parliament.
SDLP representatives Colum Eastwood and Claire Hanna honoured the persistence of the Finucane family, pointing out that their wait for justice had been inordinately long. Eastwood commended Benn for finally taking the correct action, and Hanna implored him to eliminate any obstacles faced by the victims’ families in their quest for truth from the British government.
Benn, who had been in extensive discussions with the Irish Government before making his decision, admitted to the House that it’s enormously difficult for anyone to grasp the depth of trauma that victims’ families endure. He acknowledged that while it is impossible to bring back the deceased, the pursuit of transparency and working towards a better future is achievable. He assured a swift implementation of the inquiry for the Finucane family, admitting that not a moment should be wasted in bringing them the clarity they seek.