JOHN STEVENS AND THE INQUIRY INTO THE MURDER OF PATRICK FINUCANE

Early day motion 621, tabled 10 May 1999 by Kevin McNamara (Labour). Signed by 5 members.

That this House notes the Answer of the Minister for the Armed Forces to the honourable Member for Kingston upon Hull North of 16th April, Official Report, column 373, that the murder of Patrick Finucane was investigated both by the RUC and subsequently by the investigation led by John Stevens, and that in a letter to Miss J. Winter of British Irish Rights Watch Mr Stevens wrote concerning reports he had sent to the DPP (NI) that, with regard to the murder of Patrick Finucane, he could confirm that the matter was fully investigated during the initial and subsequent inquiry and the results included in both reports; is surprised to read Mr Stevens' subsequent statements, one of 23rd April made to Messrs Madden & Finucane, Solicitors, that 'at no time he was given the authority either by the Chief Constable of the RUC or the DPP to investigate the murder of Patrick Finucane' and in the Irish News, 29th April that at no time in Stevens II or the original Stevens Inquiry did he investigate the murder of Patrick Finucane although those inquiries - through the so-called double-agent Brian Nelson - were linked to the murder of Patrick Finucane'; and calls upon the Government to explain the contradiction between Mr Stevens' statements and those of Government departments and consider, in the light of Ms Janet Winter's letter and his subsequent statements, whether Mr Stevens is a proper person to inspire confidence in leading an investigation into the death of Patrick Finucane.

Signatures by party: Labour 5.