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Obama calls for full Finucane murder probe
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
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Barack Obama has backed calls for an inquiry into the murder of Northern Ireland solicitor Pat Finucane, campaigners said last night.
Two Irish-American lobby groups said they had secured the senator's support for the campaign to compel the British Government to allow an independent, international probe into the killing.
Mr Finucane was shot dead in front of his family by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989, but the security forces have repeatedly been implicated in the killing of the solicitor, who had represented republican suspects.
The Government has faced widespread criticism for its attempts to examine the case under new public inquiry legislation that critics say would allow ministers to intervene to obstruct the search for the truth.
Last night the Irish-American Unity Conference said it had secured Mr Obama's support for a fully independent inquiry, as recommended in a report compiled for the British Government by Canadian Judge Peter Cory.
“We are extremely grateful to Senator Obama for lending us his support,” said the murdered solicitor's son, Michael Finucane.
“As Senator Obama points out, this was a recommendation of Judge Cory as a way to look at all the very serious circumstances arising out of the death of Pat Finucane.”
In response to a questionnaire on establishing a truth process for Northern Ireland, Mr Obama's team said: “Senator Obama would support a reconciliation process that seeks the comprehensive truth about past violence. Senator Obama believes there should be an independent, public inquiry as Judge Cory recommended.”
Michael Finucane said the 20th anniversary of his father's death was to be marked next year and added that the campaign to uncover the truth of what happened would continue.
“As Senator Obama himself points out, disclosure of information would increase community confidence in the security forces and ultimately the institutions responsible for shaping the new society,” said Mr Finucane.
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It's a good sign that Obama is willing to shine a light on the dark side of Northern Ireland which has been covered up by the powers that be for far too long.
Posted by Bazero | 15.10.08, 13:15 GMT
Yet ANOTHER YANK sticking his unwanted nose into our business. Let's hope McCain getrs elected That will be one GOOD republican
Posted by CannuckCol | 11.10.08, 21:32 GMT
Agree with you there Canuck. New Orleans for example, still finding bodies 3 years after the storm.
Obama should remember one thing, he's not President, if he was he would be President of the US, not NI or anywhere else in the world for that matter.
Posted by Dave | 10.10.08, 08:36 GMT
This is just another example of an American sticking his nose into something that is not his business. The two Irish-American Lobby Groups that he has decided to support are very one sided. Most of them have never been to ireland, they really do't know Irish history, they have some stupid romantic idea about Ireland and they couldn't care less about Protestants, It looks like Obama will be the next American President and I think that he should be addressing his mind to the American economy and the mess that America has caused around thevworld in respect of matter,
Posted by MARC | 10.10.08, 02:49 GMT
Maybe he should call for enquiries into his cities, as they are the most violent cities in the world with the most murders in the World--makes you proud to be American-EH!
Posted by canuck | 09.10.08, 15:59 GMT
Funny it takes an outside opinion to clarify the truth. Thanks for highlighting this.
Posted by P Mac | 09.10.08, 01:35 GMT
I wonder will "President Elect" Obama will compel the likes of Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, et al to fully disclose exactly what they got up to during the so called troubles. I doubt it very much as the American attitiude seems to be:
Protestant/Unionist/British = Bad/Devils/Perpetual Agressors.
Catholic/Nationalist/Irish = Good/Angels/Perpetual Victims.
Until this attitude changes, many people in the Unionist community in Northern Ireland will just see this a more American interference.
Posted by Samuel | 08.10.08, 22:40 GMT
As an American I agree with you that American politicians should keep their noses out of your affairs. I wonder quite often why in the world our problems are so important to your online news agencies. But please notice the story says that the Irish American groups secured his approval. As a general rule, American politicians don't seek out a way to interfere in your affairs. But the Irish love affair with Socialist like the Kennedys and Obama is a curious thing indeed. You wouldn't care much for their added tax burdens. And you're right in that the only reason Obama would back an inquiry is for the Irish American vote. In truth, Obama would have approved of the murder if the vicitim had not been born yet.
Posted by lars michael collins | 08.10.08, 21:29 GMT
Who really cares about what Obama thinks? Well, genius, the rest of the better part of the world does, since he's going to be the next President of the United States. Obama can have an opinion that will carry a tremendous amount of clout, regardless of what topics he chooses to speak on. The fact that he is an American, one who is free to speak as freely as he chooses (that was one of the many rights we won in defeating the British), and influence world events as willfully as he wants, just puts a smile on this proud American's face. And if the British security forces were guilty of dupliicity in this cowardly act, prosecute those involved to the highest extent of the law. God Bless America.
Posted by yahmpy | 08.10.08, 20:02 GMT
So many atrocities were carried out.Lets move on.Yes.All they want is the Irish American vote.Hopefully the people of N.I. will walk forward into the sunshine and not linger on the dark misty days of yesterday
Posted by danny | 08.10.08, 19:12 GMT
The murder of anyone is a tragedy for their family and friends. The hypocrisy of the Americans in their complicit support with guns, bomb making equipment and cash for Irish murderers just reveals the shallow opportunism which categorises their laughable 'politics'. Mr Finucane's family would be better off without that kind of help.
Posted by J.A. Cothelad | 08.10.08, 17:55 GMT
As much as I really have a great deal of sympathy for the family, I'm sick of American politicians sticking their noses where they don't belong, all just to boost the Irish American vote. As Bannside said, they should be looking into their own mess before they talk about others, and America certainly has enough problems of their own to occupy them...
Posted by Michael | 08.10.08, 16:09 GMT
Why does the Americans have to keep sticking their noses into other people's affairs? What has it got to do with Obama? Who really cares what Obama thinks about this affair? People in N.I. know exactly what happened, a Police informer took part in the cold-blooded murder of a father in front of his family, which was despicable. The truth also has to come out about Mr. Finnucane, and his true dealings with the IRA, then people will understand why he was a target in the first place, though this by no means justifies any killing. Was his brothers not high up in the IRA? Was he not the conduit between the brother up North and the brother down South, who was on the run? He was no ordinary Lawyer. I thought the Americans were pulling away from supporting certain groups?
Posted by canuck | 08.10.08, 15:37 GMT
It would be good to see such Irish American groups taking a greater interest in the hundreds of others maimed and killed.
Posted by robbo | 08.10.08, 12:53 GMT
I wonder if Mr Obama would be as interested in an inquiry into the 4000+ US soldiers and 100,000+ Iraqi dead since the Iraq invasion. Remember the one to get rid of those weapons of mass destruction?? I fully sympathise with the Finucanes but can someone please tell me where all these inquiries get us? Hundreds of millions spent on the "Bloody Sunday" inquiry and where are we? Nowhere. At what point in this countries history do we forgive and move on? Over 3000 deaths in "the troubles".....who decides who warrants an inquiry??
Posted by Bannside | 08.10.08, 10:27 GMT
Its easy to call for such a inquiry, an inquiry into all these terrible events would help people. Is he prepared to settle the bill for it.
We don't need to make more lawyers richer at the expense of our education, health, Police and other important services.
Bloody Sunday Inquiry was a quango and sadly delivered nothing!!
Posted by Cakie | 08.10.08, 09:04 GMT