PATRICK FINUCANE AND ROSEMARY NELSON: PROPOSED INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL JUDICIAL INQUIRY

Early day motion 645, tabled 13 May 1999 by Kevin McNamara (Labour). Signed by 14 members.

That this House congratulates the Northern Ireland Law Society on the decision of its special annual general meeting to add its authority and voice to calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances and allegations of collusion arising from the murders of solicitors Patrick Finucane in 1989 and of Rosemary Nelson in 1999; notes that similar motions have already been adopted by the Bar Council of Northern Ireland and by Law Societies in England and Wales and in the Republic of Ireland; further notes the call of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of the Judiciary for independent investigations; believes that building cross-community confidence in the rule of law can only be accomplished if well-founded allegations of abuse are seen to be investigated with rigour and impartiality; and urges the Government to heed the advice of the international community and of the legal profession by facilitating the establishment in each case of an independent international judicial inquiry.

Signatures by party: Labour 12, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.