Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has reiterated calls for a public inquiry into the murder of human rights lawyer Pat Finucane.
She was speaking after US Congressman Richie Neal wrote to the British Prime Minister voicing support for the repeal of the shameful Legacy Act and the Finucane family’s continued pursuit of truth and justice.
The party’s spokesperson on victims and survivors said, “I want to echo the words of Congressman Richie Neal who has once again called for an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.
“Geraldine Finucane and her family have fought for over 35 years with dignity and determination in an effort to establish the full truth of what happened to Pat; a husband, a father, a human rights lawyer.
“The British government must move beyond the years of gaslighting and insulting victims. It is time for them to finally offer families, including Pat Finucane’s, the opportunity of truth and justice.
“There must be no more delays, blockages or stoppages.
“Now is the time to establish a public inquiry and to deliver full truth and justice to Geraldine Finucane and her children.”
On Wednesday, Congressman Neal’s office released a statement saying, “Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal sent a letter to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, voicing his support for the Prime Minister Starmer’s commitment to revisiting and repealing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act of 2023.
The legislation, which became law in September 2023, halted all historical inquests into more than 1,000 unsolved killings that took place during the Troubles and transferred the cases to the newly established Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. The law has also prevented new civil cases from being filed and offers conditional amnesty to those accused of killings during the Troubles. Prime Minister Starmer committed to repealing the Legacy Act during his first month in office.”
Read the full letter below:
