Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004
47 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the decision of the British authorities not to proceed with the establishment of a public inquiry into the circumstances of the murder of a person (details supplied) as recommended in the Cory report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14556/04]
View answerOn 1 April last, the British Government published reports by Judge Peter Cory into the murders of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright. At that time, I welcomed the publication of those reports and the announcement that inquiries will be held into the circumstances of the murders of Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright, as recommended by Judge Cory.
I also expressed disappointment, however, at the decision of the British Government to delay a decision on the judge's recommendation that a public inquiry be established quickly into the circumstances of the murder of Pat Finucane.
Recently, Judge Cory made clear again in his statement in Washington to the Helsinki Commission hearings his view that this was one of the rare instances where a public inquiry should take precedence over a prosecution if there is to be peace in the community. He went on to say that until that happened, "then suspicion grows like a cancerous sore and just will grow greater and greater until the exploration is made". His comments clearly underline his conviction that a public inquiry should he held without delay. The Government shares this view, as the Taoiseach has previously made clear to this House.
The case of Pat Finucane has been and remains a cause of the most serious concern. The Finucane family has called for a public inquiry for over 14 years. Like the other three families involved, they want and are entitled to see the timely establishment of inquiries into all of the cases, in full accordance with the commitments made by the two Governments at Weston Park in August 2001. I will continue to express this view to the British Government, and will urge that a public inquiry should be established as soon as possible.
