Patrick Finucane: Supreme Court Judgment

Rachel Hopkins Excerpts

Monday 30th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

The hon. Gentleman highlights, as have other colleagues this afternoon, some of the tragic circumstances and the importance of people across all communities, and us all, understanding the losses that have been seen across all communities. I would just say to him, as I have said, that every case has to be looked at on the merits of that individual case. In this particular case, as I say, I believe the next steps are the right ones: to allow the PSNI and the police ombudsman to do their work.

[Rachel Hopkins (Luton South) (Lab)]

I, too, am thoroughly disappointed that the Secretary of State has not decided to grant a full public inquiry into the death of Pat Finucane. Concern over the Secretary of State’s approach to dealing with legacy is not limited to Opposition Members; the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee said that the proposals in his March statement raised

“profound legal, ethical and human rights issues.”

Does he agree with that assessment? Will he commit to resetting his approach to dealing with legacy to win back the trust of victims and their families?