Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Solicitor Pat Finucane PA Images

Pat Finucane murder: Minister's comments about solicitors being 'sympathetic to IRA' were backed by No 10

Douglas Hogg was criticised for remarks he made in the House of Commons three weeks before Finucane was killed in 1989.

A SENIOR BRITISH politician who stated in 1989 that some solicitors in Northern Ireland were “unduly sympathetic to the cause of the IRA” was reflecting “a precise official briefing” and was not making “spontaneous outburst”, newly released State papers show.

Douglas Hogg, then a Home Office minister, was criticised for remarks he made in the House of Commons in January 1989.

Three weeks later, on 12 February, human rights solicitor Pat Finucane was shot dead by loyalists, who acted in collusion with British security forces, in front of his wife and three children at his home in Belfast.

Hogg’s comments were seen by some as an incitement to violence. State papers from that time confirm that the Home Office and “senior people in No 10″ at the time gave “a fairly clear indication that there will be no retraction and no public censure of Hogg”.

An official Irish government document notes: “While (like his father) Hogg wins few marks for political judgement and sensitivity, he is reckoned to be ‘safe’ in this instance because he acted on official advice. He prefaced his remarks to the Select Committee on 17 January with an indication to this effect.”

The document adds that Hogg had privately said “he had carefully repeated his claim in the same terms several times in order to indicate that this was not a spontaneous outburst on his part but reflected, rather, a precise official briefing”.

He also stated that he “had contemplated ‘naming names’ (which had been provided to him) but had decided not to do so as this would be an abuse of parliamentary privilege”. 

douglas-hoggnational-farmers Douglas Hogg, then-Agriculture Minister, pictured in February 1997. PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

The document notes that the Irish government believed Hogg’s advice had come from the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Northern Ireland Office and the Home Office.

There is reportedly a list which names three nationalist solicitors (Pat Finucane, Oliver Kelly and Paddy McGrory) and two solicitors with Loyalist sympathies (Jonathan Taylor, believed to have UDA connections, and one other).

The Finucane family has always maintained that he was not a member of the IRA, something which authorities and the government also believe. 

The document states that Hogg indicated on 17 January 1989 that “he had to intervene as he did in order to dispose of an amendment sought by Labour (and also Bill Cash) which aimed to protect the confidential relationship between solicitor and client”.

However, the document adds: “Hogg had been under fire from Seamus Mallon and Labour on earlier matters (notably house searches) and, being naturally combative, had been looking out for an issue on which he could ‘fight back’.”

sol State papers 1989 State papers 1989

A separate official document tells Brian Lenihan Senior, who was the Tanáiste at the time, that he “might like to say in the tete-a-tete that he is concerned about the recent remarks of the Home Office Minister, Douglas Hogg, in the House of Commons that some Northern solicitors are ‘unduly sympathetic to the cause of the IRA’”.

“This was all the more unfortunate because of rumours circulating that Mr Paddy McCrory and certain other solicitors may be targeted by loyalist paramilitaries. We could repeat (very privately) our view that Mr Paddy McGrory is certainly not a solicitor we would regard as being “unduly sympathetic” towards the IRA. We see his relationship with IRA clients as entirely professional.” 

McGrory represented the families of the Gibraltar Three – three unarmed IRA members were shot dead by British SAS officers on Gibraltar on 6 March 1988.

Finucane’s best-known client was the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. 

‘Compromised’

In 2001, Hogg was interviewed by detectives who were investigating claims that the British Army colluded with loyalist paramilitary assassins to murder Finucane.

In 2003, a major report into collaboration between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries found that Hogg was “compromised” by information fed to him by RUC officers. Sir John Stevens, the report’s author, said at the time that Hogg’s comments had not been justified.

A separate report which was released in 2012 concluded that British army agent handlers “deliberately” helped loyalist gunmen select their targets in Northern Ireland in the 1980s. However, the De Silva report said British ministers may have been unaware that Finucane was being lined up for assassination.

Launching the report in London seven years ago, then-British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed that there were “shocking levels of collusion” between the State, police officers and soldiers and the UDA members who killed Finucane.

Addressing the British parliament, Cameron apologised and said that “on the balance of probability”, an officer or officers from the RUC did propose Finucane as a target to loyalist terrorists.

Finucane’s widow, Geraldine, at the time described the report as “a sham”, “a whitewash” and “not the truth”. In October of this year, a BBC Spotlight programme reported that MI5 destroyed secret information from computer hard drives being held by an inquiry examining Finucane’s murder.

pat-finucane-review The family of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane, including his widow Geraldine and son John (right) stand with their solicitor Peter Madden outside 10 Downing Street in October 2011. Stefan Rousseau / PA Archive/PA Images Stefan Rousseau / PA Archive/PA Images / PA Archive/PA Images

Geraldine told the programme: “I was told that papers marked ‘cabinet eyes only’ involved the collusion and the killing of my husband. There is something there that needs to be exposed.”

In February of this year, the UK Supreme Court ruled there has been no valid inquiry into the killing. At the time, the Finucane family’s solicitor said the decision “vindicated” their “relentless campaign” for justice.

Finucane’s son John was elected a Sinn Féin MP for North Belfast, unseating DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds, earlier this month

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
34 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ebeneezer Goode
    Favourite Ebeneezer Goode
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 9:04 AM

    Pat was murdered by British proxies. Let’s never forget that.

    134
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:07 AM

    @Ebeneezer Goode:
    The killing of Pat Finucane was one of many horrific and unjustifiable killings. Pat Finucane, Patrick Gillespie, Patrick Kelly, Garry Sheehan, Rosemary Nelson, Columba McVeigh, Jean McConville, these are just some of the more than 3600 people who were killed in Northern Ireland during the 30 years of conflict.
    There are many people on both sides of the conflict who have never taken proper responsibility for those killings. If we want to ever have peaceful forward looking societies on this island, we need to move on. Google Kathleen Gillespie.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ebeneezer Goode
    Favourite Ebeneezer Goode
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:24 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: I’m well aware who Kathleen Gillespie is and the crime carried out against her husband by the IRA. Everyone knows the truth of what happened that day. But the truth about how and why Pat Finucane was murdered is being kept from the public. The cover up by the British continues. Don’t you think we have a right to know how high up collusion went and whether members of Thatcher’s government knew beforehand that Pat was going to be murdered?

    82
    See 16 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:53 AM

    @Ebeneezer Goode:
    We know the truth of why Pat Finucane & Rosemary Nelson were killed. What we don’t know, and probably will never know is who gave the order.

    Just as we don’t know who gave the order to have Patrick Gillespie chained to a car to be blown to smithereens, or who gave the order to have Colomba McVeigh or Jean McConville murdered and disappeared.

    As hard as it is for everyone. We need to forgive and forget, on both sides.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute seamus toomey
    Favourite seamus toomey
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 11:02 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: take it you are not related to any of the fore mentioned
    Forgive and forget???
    Get the truth

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ebeneezer Goode
    Favourite Ebeneezer Goode
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 11:05 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Why the need to go off topic? The story about is related to Pat Finucanes’ murder, not the disappeared.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 11:18 AM

    @Ebeneezer Goode:
    I was replying to your glib comment that asked people not to forget a particular one sided viewpoint. Intelligent people look at things in a wider context. Pat Finucane was not killed in isolation. Over 3600 people were killed during the troubles, the vast majority by the IRA. We will never know the full truth behind many of those killings.

    We need to move on if we are ever to have lasting peace on this island.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 11:21 AM

    @seamus toomey: We will never get the truth. All we will do is dig up old enmities and hatred. Yes. Forgive and forget. from all sides.It’s not easy but that is what has to happen. Google Kathleen Gillespie.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben
    Favourite Ben
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 11:37 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: And remember too It was a completely pointless conflict. What concession was achieved that would not have come by peaceful means? Answer Not a thing!!!!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 11:44 AM

    @Ben: But in the end of the day, what happened happened. Digging it up again won’t change it
    If there is one thing to be learned from the conflict in Northern Ireland it is listen to the voices of peace and integrity. Do not heed to the voices of hatred and violence.
    That is something we should never forget.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fachtna Roe
    Favourite Fachtna Roe
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 12:49 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Respectfully, you devalue the loss of Mr Finucane with your “one of many” comment. At first reading that comment seems balanced, referencing “both sides”.

    But that seeming balance is just a false nicey-nice. Only 1 of those on your list of others murdered is understood to have been targeted by loyalists. So the devaluation is by listing of those that make the same “side” as Mr Finucane look bad.

    Is it your position that he had it coming?

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 1:14 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: The loss of Pat Finucane is not devalued by the loss of the other 3600 plus victims of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Their loss are of equal value.

    “Respectfully”, having read some of your previous comments I understand that truth and fairness are an anathema to your viewpoint on the conflict in Northern Ireland..

    The fact that you would try to assign a completely false narrative to my comments just shows that your comment is not made in good faith and further confirms your lack of integrity and balance.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fachtna Roe
    Favourite Fachtna Roe
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 3:41 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Assessments of integrity and balance are best carried out by those who grasp subtlety. Do not now blame 3600+ other persons for your statement; for it is _your_ statement that offers the devaluation.

    I offer a practical example: attend the funeral of any one who dies in a motor accident and comment loudly on 6 of the others you’ve heard of similarly deceased, either as a means of comfort, or of display of your better right to opinine about “know[ing] the full truth”. Try that.

    Separately, the contradiction of “forgive and forget” followed so quickly by “Google Kathleen Gillespie” is illustrative. You suggest others “dig up old enmities and hatred” moments after decrying just that.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 5:20 PM

    @Fachtna Roe:
    Your example is nonsense, your are deliberately ignoring context. We are not at a funeral, we are on the comments section of a media website commenting on notes from Irish diplomats recently released under the 30 year rule.

    I have not said anything that any reasonable person could in good faith could take as “devaluing” the loss of Pat Finucane. But you are not commenting in good faith. You are pushing a specific agenda. You are being disingenuous in attempting to twist the meaning of my comments to devalue my point.

    If you have a valid coherent point then make it. Otherwise you are just a pathetic troll with an agenda.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ebeneezer Goode
    Favourite Ebeneezer Goode
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 6:20 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Sweeping collusion under the carpet is not moving on. Your attempt to water down Pats murder is insulting. You shouldn’t be so obtuse.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin O'Reilly
    Favourite Martin O'Reilly
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:05 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: Correct and to the point.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin O'Reilly
    Favourite Martin O'Reilly
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:08 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Perhaps people who live in glass houses………………!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fachtna Roe
    Favourite Fachtna Roe
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 11:40 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: I think that at this point you’re just trying to wriggle away from your words by claiming those words now are being “twisted”. But the words and context are wholly yours. What you don’t like is how the innuendo behind your words is called out; that you’re being asked to clarify your meaning. However, rather than clarify you instead wilfully misunderstand. It is a reasonable conclusion that your responses indicate discomfort at your own agenda being challenged.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Ó'Máille
    Favourite Patrick Ó'Máille
    Report
    Dec 31st 2019, 2:16 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Getting on with this long protracted peace process is the right thing to do. But it’s not going to work unless we have some basic facts cleared up. Like did the British officialy sanction the killing of Pat Finucane. And also why does a government who profess to be looking after the interests of all the citizens of NI persistently cover up and drag out, hold up and delay inquiries like Ballymurphy and a string of others involving the guardians of law and order. After all the other side are the terrorists aren’t they?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Kelly
    Favourite William Kelly
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 7:27 AM

    Let’s not forget the civilian victims of this terrorism by all those who were engaged, whether legitimately uniformed or not.
    When the dogs of war are loosed, there are always more innocent lives destroyed, not alone the dead & injured, but their close family, friends & neighbors, who carry the scars of trauma & loss for life.
    The Nationalist agenda was never worth the cost in human misery, equal rights were gradually being achieved by civil campaigning, & 30 + years of “troubles” just re-imposed oppression & distrust.
    A bloodstained tricolour over Stormont is nothing to be proud of, we are not living in 1789, as some flag wavers appear to believe.

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben
    Favourite Ben
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 8:23 AM

    @DaMoons: How about Robert McCarthy? Did he get what he had coming? Do the police of any state not have the right to search a property if they thing their in criminal acts happening there?

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DaMoons
    Favourite DaMoons
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 8:38 AM

    @Ben: I dont know the guy.

    27
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Baldy Head Baldrick
    Favourite Derek Baldy Head Baldrick
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 8:43 AM

    @William Kelly: Well said about the Dogs of War, but as a Devil’s advocate. I recently read Max Hastings’ “Belfast 1969″. He might disagree with you regarding equal rights being gradually achieved. Burntollet Bridge, as hostile and dreadful as it was, was like a walk in the park compared to what came next in Belfast the same month at the hands of the B Specials, The RUC and loyalist thugs. This was not a ‘nationalist agenda’ – they were marching for the right to vote, and to the same housing right as their Protestant neighbours!

    He confesses to being a conservative minded journalist, but was shocked at the brutal oppression of Catholics and those seeking civil rightd, many who were not politically minded nationalists, vividly describing what took place in Belfast after Derry’s Bogside riots. Children being machine gunned with armour piercing bullets in their houses and beds by policemen running amok in hijacked military armoured cars. Those children were too young to have formed a ‘nationalist agenda’.

    I’m not justifying what happened afterwards – not for a second, but treat people like the way Catholics were treated and that’s what happens. It is also an undeniable fact that Northern Ireland is a vastly different place today from the time Catholics were not allowed to vote in municipal elections and couldn’t get jobs or decent houses. The words chalk and cheese spring to mind, and it could be argued, given the entrenched Unionist mindset that manifested itself in such explosive hatred in 1969, was not going to be budged by people simply singing ‘We shall overcome’.

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Gerry
    Favourite The Gerry
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:02 AM

    @William Kelly: That you Hogg??

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ebeneezer Goode
    Favourite Ebeneezer Goode
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:11 AM

    @William Kelly: I’ve read some tripe here but this takes the biscuit. Straight out of the Jamie Bryson book of bitterness.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Marlow
    Favourite Seán Marlow
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 4:28 PM

    @William Kelly: Republicans didn’t start the conflict. The 1st 9 innocent victims were murdered by the RUC in 1969 when the IRA was virtually non-existent. Irish governments not only failed to protect fellow Irish citizens, but actively collaborated with British Forces when the perpetrated deliberate mass murder of unarmed Irish civilians in Ballymurphy, Derry, Springhill, New Lodge, Newry and colluded in the murder of hundreds more via the Glenanne Gang, MRF, FRU, etc, etc.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin O'Reilly
    Favourite Martin O'Reilly
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:13 PM

    @William Kelly: was it not the end product of Williamite and latter 1798 that culminated in the latter conflict. Do you remember the bloody handkerchief of 1972 in Derry?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fionnbarra O Nuallain
    Favourite Fionnbarra O Nuallain
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 10:05 AM

    FF/FG never had lirodi for dealing with the British government

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kate H
    Favourite Kate H
    Report
    Dec 28th 2019, 12:57 PM

    @williamkelly What do you mean by legitimately uniformed?

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Ó'Máille
    Favourite Patrick Ó'Máille
    Report
    Dec 31st 2019, 2:05 PM

    What does lirodi mean?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fachtna Roe
    Favourite Fachtna Roe
    Report
    Dec 31st 2019, 2:47 PM

    @Patrick Ó’Máille: Liathróidí. Old Irish, meaning “I don’t know what a tracker mortgage is”. ;)

    https://translate.google.com/#view=home&op=translate&sl=ga&tl=en&text=Liathr%C3%B3id%C3%AD.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Ó'Máille
    Favourite Patrick Ó'Máille
    Report
    Dec 31st 2019, 10:28 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: Ah balls!!, well he’s dead right about that

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Ó'Máille
    Favourite Patrick Ó'Máille
    Report
    Dec 31st 2019, 10:26 PM

    Ah balls!!, well he’s dead right about that.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds