Colum Eastwood

Colum Eastwood

Social Democratic & Labour Party — Foyle

Speaking in the House of Commons on 11 September 2024

Debate

Patrick Finucane Murder

Contribution

On 17 January 1989, Conservative Minister Douglas Hogg claimed in Parliament that solicitors in Northern Ireland were “unduly sympathetic to the cause of the IRA.”—[Official Report, Standing Committee B, 17 January 1989; c. 508.] Seamus Mallon MP responded that he had “no doubt that there are lawyers walking the streets or driving on the roads of the North of Ireland who have become targets for assassins’ bullets as a result of the statement that has been made tonight.”—[Official Report, Standing Committee B, 17 January 1989; c. 519.] Three weeks later, lawyer Pat Finucane was shot 14 times and murdered in his own house in front of his wife and three children. I commend Geraldine Finucane and the Finucane family, including of course the hon. Member for Belfast North (John Finucane), on their tireless campaigning to get to this point, and I thank the Secretary of State for finally doing the right thing on behalf of the British Government in announcing this inquiry. When does he envisage the inquiry beginning?

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