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Election 2017: Sinn Féin candidate John Finucane says he is continuing his father's work

Sinn Féin North Belfast candidate John Finucane with Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Kelly. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker
Sinn Féin North Belfast candidate John Finucane with Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Kelly. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker Sinn Féin North Belfast candidate John Finucane with Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Kelly. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker

SINN Féin candidate John Finucane has said he is continuing the work his father started by standing for election in North Belfast.

Party members last night approved the nomination at a selection convention at the Lansdowne Hotel, just a short distance from the family home where Pat Finucane was shot dead by loyalists in 1989.

His youngest son's selection came just days after he agreed to put his name forward to stand against sitting DUP MP Nigel Dodds.

Asked when Mr Finucane joined Sinn Féin, a spokesman said he "was asked to join the party and put his name forward to the North Belfast selection convention and he agreed to do so this week".

Veteran North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly had been expected to stand but instead nominated the prominent lawyer.

Political commentators have suggested Mr Finucane's nomination could help broaden Sinn Féin's appeal in the closely-fought constituency among voters uneasy with Mr Kelly's IRA past.

Mr Finucane, a partner at Finucane Toner Solicitors, has been a long-time campaigner for a public inquiry into his father's murder.

He told last night's convention, with his mother Geraldine in the audience, that he was proud of his upbringing in north Belfast.

The former Antrim GAA player said since his father's death "my family has campaigned for truth and justice, under the dignified direction of my mother Geraldine".

"I remain as resolute as ever that some things are worth battling for," he said.

"That is a conviction that I have taken from my father’s life and death, and from the strength I have witnessed at first hand in my mother and my family."

He added: "Now, by standing here in North Belfast, I am continuing the work he started, towards a just, equitable and rights-based society for all."

Mr Finucane said he was among the thousands of mourners at former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness's funeral in March and had been inspired by the late Sinn Féin politician.

"Martin helped my family for countless years and always showed compassion and warmth to us and to so many others," he said.

"If I can achieve a fraction of what Martin achieved in the work that he did to reach out the hand of friendship, then I will be very proud."

Mr Kelly said the selection marked a "step change in moving positively forward".

"It is my belief that John, with the help of all of us here tonight, can substantially increase that vote and become the first Nationalist MP ever in North Belfast".

Sinn Féin's leader in the north, Michelle O'Neill, also said Mr Finucane is "the personification of what our party stands for".

"His family has struggled for justice for many years and despite all they have gone through, John spoke eloquently and passionately here tonight about his determination to continue to reach out the hand of friendship," she said.

An SDLP spokesman said it plans to select a candidate for the constituency in the next week, although a date for the convention had not yet been set.

North Belfast MLA and former mayor Nichola Mallon is expected to be selected for the seat.

Mr Dodds won in 2015 with a majority of more than 5,300 over Mr Kelly, with the SDLP's Alban Maginness a distant third on around 3,300 votes.