Hilary Benn

Mr Finucane, who co-founded Madden & Finucane Solicitors, was murdered in his home in north Belfast on 12 February 1989 by loyalist paramilitaries who acted in collusion with UK security forces.

His family have long campaigned for a public inquiry into the killing and his widow, Geraldine Finucane, has repeatedly brought legal actions aimed at forcing the UK government to establish an inquiry.

A major milestone was the UK Supreme Court’s ruling in February 2019 that the UK had failed to deliver an ECHR Article 2-compliant investigation into Mr Finucane’s death.

Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn said today that he had considered whether to refer the case to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), established under the previous government’s controversial legacy law.

“The Commission has powers comparable to those provided by the Inquiries Act to compel witnesses and to secure the disclosure of relevant documents by state bodies — powers identified by the Supreme Court as being crucial for the government to discharge its human rights obligations,” Mr Benn told MPs.

However, he said the “unique circumstances of this case” as well as previous government promises on the issue meant the “only appropriate way forward is to establish a public inquiry”.

The government will seek to appoint a chair of the inquiry and establish its terms of reference “as soon as possible”, he said.

Welcoming the announcement, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “I welcome the British government’s decision today in relation to Pat Finucane.

“Today is a vindication of Geraldine Finucane and her family who have campaigned over decades for truth and justice. I spoke to John Finucane by phone yesterday evening to underline the enduring importance that I, as taoiseach, and the government attach to progress in his father’s case.

“This is the beginning of a process and it will be important that, as details are confirmed, there is confidence that it can meet the standards and independence thresholds essential to an inquiry of this nature.”

He added: “I want to acknowledge the leadership of prime minister Keir Starmer and secretary of state Hilary Benn in coming to this decision.

“Prime minister Starmer and I have discussed the Pat Finucane case, including as recently as last Saturday when we met in Dublin, and in follow up to a previous discussion in Chequers in July.

“I know that the prime minister is committed to finding a new approach to legacy issues in Northern Ireland, and today’s decision by the British government is in keeping with the spirit of that commitment.

“I have indicated to the prime minister that we stand ready to work with him and his government on legacy issues.”