British government misses two European deadlines on plans for Pat Finucane investigation

THE British government has missed two deadlines set by EU ministers to state how it will investigate the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane.

The 39-year-old was shot dead in front of his wife and children at his north Belfast home by a UDA gang, including British state agents, in 1989.

In February last year the Supreme Court in London ruled that an effective investigation has not been carried out.

To date the British government has failed to confirm how it intends to respond to the ruling that there has yet to be an investigation that complies with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to life.

The Finucane family met with Secretary of State Brandon Lewis in February this year but a court hearing listed for April over the delay has been adjourned due to the coronavirus crisis.

The Committee of Ministers, made of EU foreign affairs ministers, also asked the British government to provide details of how it will respond.

So far two deadlines, December 1 2019 and March 31 this year, have been missed.

Peter Madden, of Madden and Finucane Solicitors, said he has written to the committee to outline the position in advance of its June meeting and request a “firm and final deadline”.

In 2003 the European Court of Human Rights also held there had been an inadequate investigation.

Mr Madden, who represents Mr Finucane’s widow Geraldine, accused the British government of showing “casual arrogance and disrespect” to the committee and the Finucane family.

Irish News