Mr. John Finucane:

I will try to be brief. I thank everybody who spoke for their support. As a family, we are not naïve as to what we are up against, but I believe this very vocal support is important. It is as important here as it is in America and when it comes together, it builds a significant momentum. As I said, however, we are not naïve.

As part of the judicial review, which worked its way towards the Supreme Court, we were able to get disclosure of really interesting commentary and analysis from within the British Cabinet as to how it was going to deal with our case. This was not back in 1989 but at the time of Mr. David Cameron's decision. In its analysis, it described this as one of the darkest periods in its military history, worse than anything that has come out of Iraq and Afghanistan. While I do not think they are but if members are unclear at all or in any doubt as to the severity in which the British state analysed this case, then I believe that commentary goes some way to making it very clear.

I wish to finish by paying tribute to my mother. As somebody who is a parent himself, I can only imagine what it was like to raise three children in the context in which she had to, like so many other people in our society. To do that while trying to fight for justice for my father shows the measure of the woman I am very proud to call my mother. I was only able to say this with a degree of bravery by socially distancing from her on Monday when we met the Taoiseach, but she is not getting any younger and I had to be socially distanced from her when saying that. She was 39 when my father was killed and I was eight. They had the best years of their lives ahead of them. My eldest child is 18 and getting ready to go to university. He watched the debate last night in the Seanad. He should not have to do that. I wish he was not in the position where he was watching that debate last night and where he is probably going to listen to this debate later today.

One thing I would put into the heads of members is the generational impact of the failure to deal with legacy. Some families deal with it better than others, but no family should have to deal with it. It should not have to pass down from generation to generation. That applies to my family as much as it applies to every single family who has had the conflict visit them over the past 40 years. It is incumbent on the British Government to recognise that when it approaches how it will respond to my family. It is incumbent upon the British Government to recognise that, as it is on all political parties, when they approach legacy. We heard from my colleague that there is only one obstacle to the implementation of Stormont House which will, hopefully, provide closure for families right across the board, no matter where they come from.

No matter what we are presented with on Monday, when we meet the Secretary of State, the support we have received today and over the past number of weeks strengthens my family, whether we are engaging in the process of an inquiry or continuing our campaign. Make no mistake about it, we are not going anywhere, just as legacy is not going anywhere. I thank everybody for their comments today.