The British government’s refusal to conduct an inquiry into its collusion with paramilitaries responsible for murdering human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane will be the the topic of a hearing held Wednesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees human rights.
 
    The British government committed to hold the inquiry in 2001, as part of the peace process following on the Good Friday Agreement. It has ever since evaded following through on its commitment, and in 2011 announced that it would not do so, though at that time it admitted collusion and apologized for it. Human rights groups and the Finucane family continue to press for an inquiry so that the individuals responsible for the murder – which an advisor to Prime Minister Cameron admitted was “the big one” in Northern Ireland - can be held accountable. 

    The title of the hearing is “Recent Developments in the Investigation of the Murder of Human Rights Attorney Patrick Finucane,” which will be held before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations chaired by Smith.

    Who:   Chairman Smith, Co-Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs and Chairman of the House human rights subcommittee; and other members of the subcommittee, and witnesses:

• Michael Finucane, son of slain human rights attorney Patrick Finucane
• Brig. Gen.  James P. Cullen (RET), USA, human rights attorney

When:             Wednesday, May 15 at 10 a.m.

Where:            Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172

Live Webcast:         The hearing will be broadcast live at this site:

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-hearing-recent-developments-investigation-murder-human-rights-attorney-Patrick