13.9.04

Sinn Féin

Finucane Inquiry must go ahead immediately

Published: 13 September, 2004

Commenting on the guilty plea this morning by the man accused of murdering Belfast Solicitor Pat Finucane, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said that 'the plea removed the bogus argument which the British government have been using to prevent a full independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane from going ahead'.

Mr Adams said:

"This morning Ken Barrett pleaded guilty to the murder of Pat Finucane. This plea, in a move reminiscent of the trial of Brian Nelson, came about as the result of a sordid deal brokered by the British system to ensure that the collusion cover-up continues.

"Those elements at the heart of the British system who manipulated and directed the activities of the loyalist death squads were determined that the full extent of their activities, including the murder of Pat Finucane, were not revealed in open court.

"However unsatisfactory today's proceedings are they do of course remove the bogus argument which the British government have been using to prevent a full independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane from going ahead.

"In light of today's development I have been in contact with the British Government to press for an immediate announcement of a full independent

inquiry. Given the Finucane family's experience of the criminal justice and policing systems over the past 15 years they have always been convinced that this would be the only avenue to get to the truth. Sinn Féin will continue to support the Finucane family and the other families of those murdered by the British State through its policy of state sanctioned murder in their search for the truth." ENDS

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