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Pat Finucane murder: Widow loses inquiry challenge against PM Pat Finucane murder: Widow loses inquiry challenge against PM
(about 2 hours later)
The family of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane have lost a legal challenge against the prime minister over his refusal to hold a public inquiry.The family of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane have lost a legal challenge against the prime minister over his refusal to hold a public inquiry.
Mr Finucane's widow Geraldine launched a judicial review against David Cameron at the High Court in Belfast. The lawyer was shot dead by loyalists in 1989 and his family have campaigned for an independent inquiry to examine UK state collusion in the murder.
She has always insisted that the truth about the killing by loyalists needs to be uncovered. His widow Geraldine launched a judicial review against David Cameron at the High Court in Belfast.
Mr Cameron agreed to a review of the case by Sir Desmond de Silva QC in 2012 but stopped short of a public inquiry. The Finucanes expressed disappointment but are to continue their campaign.
Mr Justice Stephens is now outlining his full judgement in the judicial review. Mr Cameron agreed to a legal review of the case by Sir Desmond de Silva QC in 2012, but the prime minister stopped short of setting up a public inquiry, which angered the Mr Finucane's's family.
Although the High Court judge rejected the legal challenge over the need for a public inquiry on Friday, he also criticised the ongoing investigation into the killing.
Mr Justice Stephens said the government had not fully met its obligations to conduct a prompt investigation of new evidence uncovered by the de Silva report more than two years ago.
He invited lawyers from both sides back to court next week to discuss the matter.
Speaking outside court, Mr Finucane's son, John: "Initially we are disappointed that there has been a decision not to hold an inquiry.
"I think there are parts of the judgement that are very encouraging - he has found that the murder as we stand remains to have been investigated properly. He's invited further argument on that. We are due to sit again on Tuesday."
John Finucane said the failed judicial review was "not a wasted journey" and added that their campaign had proved "very fruitful".
"We don't have an inquiry but I would disagree we aren't getting anywhere. What the public know is an absolute ocean away from what we knew 25 years ago," the victim's son said.
The murder of the high-profile solicitor remains one of the most controversial killings of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.The murder of the high-profile solicitor remains one of the most controversial killings of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The 39-year-old was shot dead in front of his wife and their young children in their north Belfast home in February 1989. The 39-year-old was shot dead in front of his wife and their children in their north Belfast home in February 1989.
The shooting was carried out by the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, but his family have led a long campaign in a bid to expose the state's involvement in the killing. The shooting was carried out by the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, but his family have led a long campaign in a bid to expose the full extent of the state's involvement in the killing.
Three years ago, his family opposed the prime minister's decision to appoint Sir Desmond de Silva to undertake a legal review of documents in the murder case. Sir Desmond de Silva carried out a legal review of documents in the murder case and in a report published in 2012, he confirmed that UK state agents had colluded in the loyalist murder.
The de Silva review confirmed that UK state agents had colluded in the loyalist murder.
Sir Desmond found that, while there were "shocking levels of state collusion" in facilitating the killing, there was no "overarching state conspiracy".Sir Desmond found that, while there were "shocking levels of state collusion" in facilitating the killing, there was no "overarching state conspiracy".
Mrs Finucane dismissed his report as a "whitewash" that had blamed only "dead witnesses" and "defunct agencies". At the time, Mrs Finucane dismissed his report as a "whitewash" that had blamed only "dead witnesses" and "defunct agencies".
"Serving personnel and active state departments appear to have been excused," the widow said in 2012."Serving personnel and active state departments appear to have been excused," the widow said in 2012.
"The dirt has been swept under the carpet without any serious attempt to lift the lid on what really happened to Pat and so many others.""The dirt has been swept under the carpet without any serious attempt to lift the lid on what really happened to Pat and so many others."