Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery

Lord Reid of Cardowan Excerpts

Thursday 16th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

My Lords, the UK Government have enormous sympathy for those killed, injured or bereaved as a result of the Troubles. I may be putting words into the noble Baroness’s mouth, but I assure your Lordships’ House that there is no hierarchy of pain or injustice. The Pat Finucane inquiry was agreed in the Weston Park agreement in 2001 and again in 2004 as part of a series of public inquiries. There is a public inquiry into Patrick Finucane because of the unique circumstances there. Noble Lords will appreciate that court proceedings on Sean Brown are happening today, so I cannot comment on that, but the Secretary of State has made clear his confidence in ICRIR as a vehicle for inquiries. That is why we are doing everything we can to secure confidence and make sure that it is the appropriate vehicle.

[Lord Reid of Cardowan (Lab)]

My Lords, to be clear and to reinforce what the Minister said, there was a concrete agreement 20 years ago that the British Government would have a public inquiry into Pat Finucane’s murder. As one who was party to that agreement as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, before moving on to other positions, I am very glad that the Government have finally honoured it. It is a matter of honour when you explicitly carry out an agreement, not once but twice, that you eventually do something about it.

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord, not for his question but for his work in helping secure and continue peace in Northern Ireland. We are where we are today because of his work and that of many others in this Chamber. We are very grateful for the work he did as one of the signatories to the Weston Park agreement.