Britain’s Top Police Officer Confirms
Security Force Collusion in Finucane Case
NEW YORK - Sir John Stevens, the Chief Commissioner of the London
Metropolitan Police, released a
report yesterday confirming that members of the UK security
forces had actively assisted loyalist paramilitaries in the 1989 murder
of Belfast human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane.
“The findings of this report are unprecedented,” said
Fiona Doherty, Senior Associate at the Lawyers Committee. “Britain’s
most senior police stated in no uncertain terms that members of
the security forces were involved in the murder and went to extraordinary
lengths to cover up their actions and obstruct his investigations.”
Among Stevens conclusions are the following:
- The murder of Patrick Finucane could have been prevented, as
both the Royal Ulster Constabulary (through its agent William
Stobie) and British Army (through its agent Brian Nelson) had
information about plans for the murder before it took place;
- Army agent Brian Nelson “contributed materially”
to the murder of Patrick Finucane;
- The police investigation into Patrick Finucane’s killing
should have resulted in the early arrests and detection of his
killers; and
- His own investigations into collusion in Northern Ireland were
repeatedly obstructed by both the Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
In the wake of this important report, we urge the UK government
to commit to establishing a public inquiry into Mr. Finucane’s
case.
Click
here to read Beyond Collusion, Lawyers Committee's report
on the Finucane case
Click here for background information on
Beyond Collusion
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