Opinion

All victims of our conflict deserve truth and justice

It is regrettable but not surprising that political reaction to the British government's decision to reject a full public inquiry into Pat Finucane's murder has divided along unionist and nationalist lines.

It is also unfortunate that some see this matter in terms of a hierarchy of victims or point to other cases when the fact is that all killings that took place during the decades of conflict were wrong, unjustified, appalling and tragic.

Those who lost loved ones deserve the truth and they are entitled to justice. At the very least they should have a thorough and comprehensive investigation and those who carried out unspeakable crimes should be held to account.

The fact that successive governments have been unable to find a way to address our terrible legacy is a damning indictment and unacceptable failure.

It also has to be recognised there is a fundamental issue at stake when the state, which has a responsibility to protect its citizens, is complicit in murder.

It is beyond doubt that British state forces colluded in the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane, who was shot dead in front of his wife and children in 1989.

Prime Minister David Cameron apologised in the House of Commons for 'frankly shocking levels of collusion' in this case.

Despite the disturbing reality which has been well documented, the British government has resisted establishing a full public inquiry into the lawyer's murder.

In 2019, the Supreme Court said all previous examinations of the death had not been compliant with human rights standards and also acknowledged Geraldine Finucane had been given an "unequivocal undertaking" by the British government following the 2001 Weston Park agreement that there would be a public inquiry.

The court stopped short of ordering such an inquiry, saying it was for the state to decide.

On Monday, at the last possible moment, secretary of state Brandon Lewis rejected the call for a full public inquiry at this stage, citing outstanding issues before the Police Ombudsman's office and a possible review of the case by police officers at the start of next year.

It is clear from the subsequent statements from both the Police Ombudsman and the PSNI chief constable that the basis for his reasoning is far from compelling.

The only legitimate conclusion that can be drawn is there are no circumstances in which this government is prepared to allow a full, rigorous and independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.

No one should view the refusal to expose the full unpalatable truth behind this killing as a positive outcome.