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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Pat Finucane murder: Widow loses inquiry challenge against PM | Pat Finucane murder: Widow loses inquiry challenge against PM |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| His widow Geraldine launched a judicial review against David Cameron at the High Court in Belfast. | His widow Geraldine launched a judicial review against David Cameron at the High Court in Belfast. |
| The Finucanes expressed disappointment but are to continue their campaign. | The Finucanes expressed disappointment but are to continue their campaign. |
| 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 Mr Finucane'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. | 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. | 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. | He invited lawyers from both sides back to court next week to discuss the matter. |
| Speaking outside court, Mr Finucane's son, John, said: "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." | "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". | 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. | "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 children in the kitchen of 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 full extent of 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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". |
| At the time, 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." |