Patrick Finucane: Supreme Court Judgment

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Excerpts

Monday 30th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend asks a good question. It is right that with the PSNI taking forward this review and investigation and the police ombudsman doing its review and investigative work, it could be prejudicial to have another process running alongside. In terms of assessing whether the Government have fulfilled our article 2 obligations, we need to let these processes work through and then make that decision.

[Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)]

In 2012, Sir Desmond de Silva QC’s review found that

“a series of positive actions by employers of the State that actively furthered and facilitated his murder”,

yet even that review had serious shortcomings, as identified by the Supreme Court. At long last, the Government must hold a full public inquiry into the murder of lawyer Patrick Finucane, because in direct contravention of what the Secretary of State has just mentioned, the chief constable of the PSNI has said it is

“our view that there are currently no new lines of inquiry. We now need to decide if a further review is merited given all the previous investigations into this case.”

Why is the Secretary of State procrastinating and adding to the heartache and pain of the Finucane family?

[Brandon Lewis]

I think I have answered the hon. Gentleman’s question several times already today. The simple fact is that on 2 November, the PSNI notified my Department of the investigative review process it will be starting in early 2021. I think he might be getting his timelines wrong in terms of what he is referring to, because it is not until that is completed that the PSNI can know whether there is anything new that will also inform our decision around our article 2 obligations. That is the right process. I trust the PSNI to do its job professionally.