PATRICK FINUCANE KILLING (14TH ANNIVERSARY)

Early day motion 712, tabled 11 February 2003 by Kevin McNamara (Labour). Signed by 28 members.

That this House notes that 12th February marks the 14th anniversary of the murder of Northern Ireland solicitor Pat Finucane, gunned down in his home in front of his wife and children; regrets that no one has been brought to justice for his murder; pays tribute to the quiet dignity and courage of his widow Geraldine Finucane and the determination of the family to uncover the truth; notes that it is a matter of record that the Ulster Defence Association intelligence officer, Brian Nelson, who identified Finucane as a target for loyalist assassination was a British Army intelligence agent at the time; further notes it is a matter of record that the deceased Ulster Defence Association quartermaster, William Stobie, who supplied the murder weapon escaped prosecution in order to become an agent of Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch; further notes that Ulster Defence Association assassin Ken Barrett has told the BBC that he was incited to commit the killing by officers of Royal Ulster Constabulary Special branch; recognises the breadth of international support for an independent judicial inquiry, particularly from the United Nations Special Rapporteur and the Law Society; regrets the continuing delay in production of the report of Sir John Stephens and demands its publication in full; and urges the Government to face up to all the issues of collusion and establish an independent public inquiry.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Liberal Democrat 2, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.