By a huge, bipartisan margin of 390-5, The House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) calling on the government of the United Kingdom to begin a full “independent public judicial” investigation into the murder of Northern Ireland defense attorney Pat Finucane.

    Among other things, the resolution specifically calls on the British government to “reconsider its position on the matter of an inquiry into the murder of Mr. Finucane, to amend the Inquiries Act of 2005, and to take fully into account the objections…raised by the Finucane family.” 

    “Pat Finucane was a courageous human rights activist, and a loving father and husband,” said Smith, who has held numerous hearings on policing reform as part of the Northern Ireland Peace Process and eleven hearings on human rights in Northern Ireland. "Finding answers to the questions surrounding Mr. Finucane’s murder will help restore full confidence in the rule of law in the north of Ireland and ensure that any agents of the government who may have colluded in the murder of a defense attorney are held accountable."

    In 1989, Patrick Finucane, a human rights attorney, was gunned down in his home in Belfast as his wife and three children watched. Numerous non-governmental human rights organizations have connected loyalist paramilitaries and British Security forces to his horrific murder. 

    In 2001, as part of the Weston Park Agreement and an attempt to help jump start the stall Good Friday Agreement, the British and Irish governments pledged to follow the recommendation of an independent, international judge charged with investigating the possibility of collusion in certain cases. That judge, retired Canadian Supreme Court jurist, Peter Cory, found sufficient evidence of collusion in the Finucane murder and called on the British government to initiate a judicial public inquiry as soon as possible.

    After public release of the Cory report, the United Kingdom enacted legislation that limits the scope of an independent investigation. The legislation was subsequently rejected by Judge Cory, the Finucane family, the Irish Government and human rights groups. 

    “The bill passed today closely tracks legislation that was unanimously passed by the Dail Eireann on March 8, 2006,” Smith said. “Our combined efforts here and in the Republic of Ireland will hopefully convince British government to live up to their agreement at Weston Park and assure the greatest confidence in the Northern Ireland peace process.”

    Smith’s resolution (H.Res. 740 as amended) also commends the Finucane family for their courageous campaign for truth and steadfast pursuit of justice.