Longstanding Case Collapses

Human Rights First Renews Call for Immediate Public Inquiry into Murder of Patrick Finucane

November 28, 2001

Human Rights First is deeply concerned by the continued lack of progress in the criminal investigation into the murder of Belfast human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane. Finucane was gunned down at his home on February 12, 1989 in front of his wife and three children. William Stobie was charged in connection with the murder in 1999. Earlier this week, the longstanding case against Stobie collapsed when the prosecution indicated that it would not be presenting evidence against him.

Since Finucane's death, there have been persistent reports that members of the UK security forces not only colluded with the loyalist paramilitaries who murdered him, but targeted Finucane for assassination. Human Rights First has conducted a series of missions to Northern Ireland to investigate these allegations and has repeatedly called for a public inquiry into Finucane's killing. The UK government has long resisted all such calls, citing the on-going criminal investigations.

Twelve years after the murder, however, the investigation continues to drag on and no one has ever been successfully prosecuted in relation to the killing. This week, Hugh Orde, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner in charge of the day to day running of the investigation, announced that he thinks it unlikely that his team will find the person who killed Patrick Finucane. Accordingly, Human Rights First strongly renews its call for an immediate public inquiry into Finucane's murder. We believe that only a full, independent public inquiry can reveal the complete scope of security force involvement in the killing, and Patrick Finucane's family have already been waiting much too long for the truth.