Latest news with #FrancescaDelMese
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Senior judge appointed to chair Finucane Inquiry
A senior judge has been appointed to chair an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Mr Finucane, 39, was shot dead at his family home in north Belfast in 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association in an attack found by a series of probes to have involved collusion with the state. His widow and the couple's three children have been campaigning for decades for a public inquiry to establish the extent of security force involvement. Last year Secretary of State Hilary Benn announced the UK Government would establish an independent inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death. It is to be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. On Friday morning, Mr Benn announced he has appointed Sir Gary Hickinbottom as chairman of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry. Sir Gary is the current president of the Welsh Tribunals and is a retired Court of Appeal Judge, who undertook the statutory inquiry into corruption and governance in the British Virgin Islands. Mr Benn has also appointed the former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland Baroness Nuala O'Loan as well as Francesca Del Mese as assessors to the inquiry. They are to provide advice to the chairman on their relevant expertise in regards to the inquiry, while also giving further assurance about the inquiry's independence. The next step in the process involves Mr Benn consulting with Sir Gary on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry. Mr Benn said he is confident the inquiry will provide answers to Mr Finucane's family. 'The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime, and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland,' he said. 'I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one, and I am confident that this inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly.' He added: 'I am delighted that Sir Gary Hickinbottom has accepted this important role as chair of the Patrick Finucane inquiry and that Baroness O'Loan and Francesca Del Mese have accepted the important roles of assessors to the inquiry. 'I am confident that, together, their valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the inquiry.' Sir Gary said he looks forward to meeting Mr Finucane's family as soon as possible. 'I am privileged to take on responsibility for leading this public inquiry into the important issues raised by the circumstances surrounding the murder of Patrick Finucane, something I will do not only in accordance with my statutory duties but as fairly, openly and transparently as I can,' he said. 'At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible.' Baroness O'Loan said: 'I look forward to taking up this role, having been appointed by the Secretary of State. 'The Finucane family has always been concerned that the full story of what happened should be told and this independent inquiry will provide the opportunity to do so. 'There remain unanswered questions and the public interest requires that we seek as best we can to get the answers to those questions.' Ireland's deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris welcomed the announcement. 'This is the final outstanding inquiry from those that were recommended by Judge Cory in 2004 and it is positive that it can now move to beginning its important and substantive work,' Mr Harris said. 'Today's announcement highlights the importance that a way forward is found to comprehensively address all the outstanding cases of the Troubles, in a way that is human rights compliant and that has the needs of victims and families at its heart. 'I continue to engage closely with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with this objective.'
Irish Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Senior judge to chair inquiry into murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane
A senior judge has been appointed to chair an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Mr Finucane (39) was shot dead at his family home in north Belfast in 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association in an attack found by a series of probes to have involved collusion with the British state. His widow and the couple's three children have been campaigning for decades for a public inquiry to establish the extent of security force involvement. Last year Secretary of State Hilary Benn announced the UK Government would establish an independent inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death. READ MORE It is to be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. On Friday morning, Mr Benn announced he has appointed Gary Hickinbottom as chairman of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry. Sir Gary is the current president of the Welsh Tribunals and is a retired Court of Appeal Judge, who undertook the statutory inquiry into corruption and governance in the British Virgin Islands. Mr Benn has also appointed the former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland Nuala O'Loan as well as Francesca Del Mese as assessors to the inquiry. The next step in the process involves Mr Benn consulting with Mr Hickinbottom on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry. Mr Benn said he is confident the inquiry will provide answers to Mr Finucane's family. 'The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime, and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland,' he said. Mr Hickinbottom said:'At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible.' —PA
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Pat Finucane: Chair announced to lead inquiry
Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed by the government to chair the inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat September, it was announced that an independent public inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death would be set up. The 39-year-old was shot at his home in Belfast by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his wife and examinations of the case have found evidence of state collusion in the killing. The Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said that the "exceptional reason" of outstanding and unfulfilled commitments by previous UK governments to establish a public inquiry meant it should inquiry will be established under the 2005 Inquiries Act, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on Gary is a former Court of Appeals judge who also chaired the Post Office Overturned Convictions Independent Pecuniary Losses Assessment Panel and the Horizon Convictions Redress government has also confirmed the appointment of former Police Ombudsman Baroness Nuala O'Loan, and international human rights lawyer Francesca Del Mese, as assessors to the inquiry. Confirming the announcement via a written statement to parliament, Benn said: "The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland."I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one and I am confident that this Inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly."Benn said he was delighted that the chair had accepted the position."I am confident that, together, their valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the Inquiry," he Gary said he was "privileged" to take on responsibility for leading the public inquiry."At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible," he government said it will undertake a consultation exercise with the chair on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry, which will be agreed and published in due course. Who was Pat Finucane? Pat Finucane was a well-known defence solicitor who frequently acted for high profile IRA also represented loyalists in his February 1989 he was shot 14 times by two wife, Geraldine, was also of his sons is the Sinn Féin MP John an inquest into his death police refuted claims that Mr Finucane was in the 2012, Sir Desmond de Silva's report into the murder found there was agent involvement and that police took no action on threat intelligence regarding Mr Finucane.
