British Policemen Had Solicitor Killed

[jake-the-peg]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20662412

RUC officers proposed Mr Finucane, 39, be killed, said they passed information to his killers and failed to stop the attack and then obstructed the murder investigation.

Is this enough? do we need a full enquiry to find and prosecute those responsible or was it all too long

This is not an IRA assassin we're talking about here this is a man whose crime was to stand up in court and represent them

[emmie]

i am sure there are soldiers wives, families who wouldn't mind getting justice for the murder of the husband, boyfriend. If we continue down this road, no peace, at least no lasting peace will ever be achieved. Have an inquiry, then what?

[ichkeria]

"Mrs Finucane was actually shot in the leg during the attack that saw her husband murdered. "

Indeed so

[Zeuhl]

em

this isn't about the murder of PF

that was tried years ago and the killer convicted

the importance of this information is that our own Intelligence Services and Police Ofiicers; people sworn to uphold the law on our behalf, prevent and prosecute killers actually helped and engineered this murder and then lied afterwards in an organised cover up

If that doesn't potentially erode the foundations of our society and our notions of how the system works i don't know what would?

[ichkeria]

"If we continue down this road, no peace, at least no lasting peace will ever be achieved"

Why do you say that? Why is peace incompatible with justice, be it justice for Pat Finucane's family or any of the other relatives of all the other victims?
Who's out on the street rioting because of the Pat Finucame affair? Folk are too busy worrying about the Union Flag to care :-)

[emmie]

because after the matter of PF there perhaps will be others, from both sides of the divide, that it's not a matter of sweeping anything under the carpet, but how is justice to be served, hold those responsible, supposing some are dead, can't do very much about that. Those who gave the intelligence, others, where do you stop?

[emmie]

zeuhl, it's not rife across the board is it, looking the other way whilst a police officer kills someone, or our intelligence services deliberately give info that results in the death of an individual. as i said i don't condone what they did, but if they hold a full enquiry, who can the blame be laid on, who can take the rap overall, and will it give peace to the family of Mr Finucane.

[Zeuhl]

em

again, i would say this isn't just about Finucane or his family.

Ideally it should 'give peace' not just to them but to everybody who thinks the Police are there to prosecute the law - not break it, corrupt it or pervert it.

Individuals responsible could still be identified but most importantly we need to understand how that sort of thing happens so we can look out for it and prevent it in future - wherever in the UK it surfaces

[emmie]

i understand your point, however sometimes the security forces, police do things for a reason, that we may not be privy to. If you think that finding those in part responsible for his death would be the right thing to do then fine, however much time has elapsed, where will they start.

[Pogue-Mahone]

AOG you comment on the OP having anti-British views (which is debatable) really any different than you constantly copy & pasting right wing anti Johnny foreigner news articles?

[jno]

hello, Pogue-Mahone, you're very knowledgeable about ABers' posting history for a comparative newcomer.

There's something very narco-state about ordering the death of a solicitor. Probably happens all the time in Mexico, but I don't think that's a road Britain should go down.

[Zeuhl]

em

i take your point

i agree that the 'forces of law' sometimes do things we might question for all sorts of reasons but for good reasons though i'm not sure the end justifies the means; either the Rule of Law matters or it doesn't.

but in this case it appears that the prejudices and targets of the unionist paramilitaries became the prejudices and targets of members of 'law enforcement'.

the killer was an ex-policeman, and he was helped in the murder by serving officers. the victim, by all accounts, was not a terrorist but a member of the legal process. he had republican sympathies and some dodgy clients but our legal system relies on people performing that role.

Who next? Michael Mansfield QC because of his 'hand wringing liberal' beliefs and his successful prosecution of cases that have embarrassed the police?

[emmie]

and one i doubt we do go down, at least very often.

[Pogue-Mahone]

jno - a comparative newcomer after 5 years, if you say so.

[jno]

long-time lurker, then?

[emmie]

never asked a question and only answered 5 posts, that's going some

[Pogue-Mahone]

em10. It doesn't detract from my initial point no matter how many times I post a question or answer one.

[NOX]

Would just like to point out that Pogue mahone is not me in disguise, as I've studiously avoided posting on this topic to the point of almost sitting on my hands.

[sandyRoe]

Isn't 'Pogue mahone' Gaelic for 'kiss my @rse'? Hardly the most elegant of names.