U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and a bipartisan group of a dozen lawmakers today introduced legislation calling on the government of the United Kingdom to begin a full “independent public judicial” investigation of the murder of Northern Ireland defense attorney Pat Finucane. 

    In the Weston Park Agreement of 2001, both the British and Irish governments agreed to implement recommendations of International Judge Peter Cory who later called for the investigation into state sponsored collusion in the Finucane murder. 

    “Pat Finucane was a courageous human rights activist, a loving father and husband,” said Smith, who earlier this week co-chaired a hearing on policing reform as part of the Northern Ireland Peace Process and has held eleven hearings in nine years on human rights in Northern Ireand. “Resolving the question surrounding his murder will help to put an end to the culture of official collusion, terrorism and crime in Northern Ireland.” 

    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. 

    Judge Cory found sufficient evidence of this collusion to warrant a public inquiry into Finucane’s murder. In 2004, Cory presented the Helsinki Commission – chaired by Rep. Smith – with his report on the Finucane case which was filled with evidence of collusion relating to the activities of an army intelligence unit and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. 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. 

    “My legislation closely tracks legislation that was passed by unanimously by the Dail Eireann on March 8, 2006,” Smith said. “We are hoping that our combined efforts here and in the Republic of Ireland will move the British government to finally live up to their agreement at Weston Park and help secure public and international confidence in the Northern Ireland peace process.” 

    Smith’s resolution commends the Finucane family for their courageous campaign for truth and calls on the government of the United Kingdom to reconsider its position on the Finucane case in light of objections raised by Judge Cory, the Finucane family, US Government officials and officials of other governments and international bodies. It also urges the Government of the United Kingdom to amend its law and establish a full, independent, public judicial inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.