Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that in a Minister who is extremely busy and has an awful lot of pressing things going on.

I also acknowledge and commend the proposers of and signatories to the motion. When people were asked to sign up they signed up and there was no doubt about it. I commend the speakers so far. More importantly, I want to acknowledge the presence of John Finucane, MP and his brave and honourable quest for justice and truth.

Before I came in here, I was thinking that if we are true advocates of justice who are committed to human rights and democracy, it does not matter who one is, where one is, where one has come from or what one has done. If justice and truth are there and have to be fought for, then we should have a consistent approach. In that respect, I picked up on some of the contributions that have been made here. If we are going to be advocates for justice and truth then we must advocate for justice and truth for everybody. We must confront the pain, horror and stories that have divided our people on the island of Ireland and further afield. We must be truthful, conscientious and determined to assist anybody and everybody who seeks to unravel the past and bring some sort of closure, justice and support for their families. It is important that we do not have one rule for one and another rule for someone else.

In terms of the motion, Patrick Finucane was an Irish lawyer. Earlier it was mentioned, and I did not know it, that he was a former Trinity College student. He was famous for successful challenges against the British Government on several important human rights cases during the 1980s. He was shot and killed in his home in Belfast on 12 February 1989 and it is hard to believe that this has gone on for so long. Talks occurred, to which many Senators referred, in Weston Park in July 2001 between officials, loyalists and the republicans regarding the event. The British Government committed to holding a public inquiry into the matter if Judge Peter Cory recommended it. Judge Cory found sufficient evidence of collusion between the UDA, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary to warrant a public inquiry into the case. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in October 2003 called for a public inquiry. No public inquiry took place until 2012, when Sir Desmond de Silva made one at the behest of the British Government. His report acknowledged that the case entailed "a wilful and abject failure by successive Governments". At the time, the Finucane family did not think the report was sufficient and, indeed, called it a sham.

The UK Supreme Court, in February 2019, stated that the British State has, to date, failed to conduct a proper public inquiry that complies with its legal obligations under Article 2 of the European Court of Human Rights. Earlier Senator Ó Donnghaile said: "Pat Finucane was murdered because he knew the potency of the law, of truth and of justice", which is a strong line that stood out. Clearly, Patrick knew the potency of the law, the potency of truth and ultimately lost his life.

The motion endorses the Government's ongoing international efforts to highlight this matter, which I share. The motion also calls on the British Government to consider its position on the Finucane case to take full account of the judgments of the UK Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the inescapable significance of the murder of Pat Finucane. Proper issues have been highlighted in the motion so I am committed to it as I think we all are. One of the great things about Seanad Éireann is that when we come together, when we stand in solidarity together and when we advocate strongly for justice and truth, we will be heard. It is good that we are here today, having set aside our political difference, and recognise there is a story to be unravelled and that somebody knows the real truth so people must come forward and the British Government must honour its commitment and have justice.

In closing, I thank the initiators of this very important Private Members' business. Again, I thank the Minister for his time and absolute commitment that he has given to this case, because that is not in doubt, and we thank him again for being with us tonight.