Taoiseach ‘disappointed’ over Finucane decision

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has described the decision not to charge any security force members over the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane as a “disappointing development.”

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said on Monday it found insufficient evidence to prosecute any former of serving British soldier, RUC or PSNI officer as a result of the Stevens Inquiry.

Mr Finucane, 39, was shot dead at his home when he was eating a family meal with his wife Geraldine and three children on February 1998.

Two masked Ulster Defence Association (UDA) gunmen broke down the door of his north Belfast house and once inside, shot him 14 times before making off in a stolen taxi.

The Taoiseach told the Dail parliament yesterday that the PPS decision further strengthened the case for an independent public inquiry.

“It is disappointing that the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland found that there is insufficient evidence at this time for further prosecutions arising out of the Stevens III report into collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the security forces,” he said.

“This is clearly a further disappointing development, not least for the Finucane family, and it does not alter the need in our view, and our stated position will remain, for an independent inquiry to allay any of the concerns surrounding this case.

“If anything, it is the government’s view that this adds to the case for an independent inquiry, and that this is the attitude that we will persist with.”

Last year the Dail passed an all-party motion which called for an independent judicial inquiry into Mr Finucane’s murder.

(JM)