Northern Ireland: Finucane family hails opening of public inquiry into solicitor’s murder

The inquiry began on Wednesday, more than 37 years after Mr Finucane was shot dead by Ulster Defence Association gunmen at his north Belfast home in February 1989. A series of investigations has previously found evidence of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and state agents in the killing.

Opening proceedings, inquiry chairman Sir Gary Hickinbottom said the conclusions he reaches will be based solely on the evidence presented. He described the killing as a “horrific murder which remains one of the most high-profile and controversial of Northern Ireland’s troubled past” and paused to remember all those who died during the Troubles.

The inquiry will be assisted by former Police Ombudsman Baroness Nuala O’Loan and international human rights lawyer Francesca Del Mese, acting as assessors. It is expected to run for several years.

Mr Finucane’s widow, Geraldine, said outside court: “This is a monumental day for our family. We have waited 37-and-a-half years for this day and not one of us wanted to miss it.

“We fought long and hard to get to the truth and to get to justice, and that’s what we’re hoping that this inquiry will provide us with.

“We’re hoping that all those questions that have never been fully answered will be answered during the inquiry and it will be thorough and it will satisfy us, and then we will have closure.”

Mrs Finucane added: “It’s more about who was pulling the strings, why was Pat targeted, why were we never warned that he was targeted on more than one occasion, who thought it up, why was this strategy put in place.”