Stevens Inquiry: Finucanes' reaction

Michael Finucane: Campaign continues

The family of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane have long campaigned for a full independent public inquiry into his murder.

Mr Finucane's son Michael gives his reaction to the publication of Sir John Stevens' report into the killing and alleged wider security force collusion.

I am not really in the least bit surprised that such an edited and shortened summary is being published because for some months now Sir John Stevens and his team have been moving back from their original position of full publication.

It is something which lies, we believe, within the heart of government, within the heart of the MoD and MI5 and within the upper echelons of the British army establishment Michael Finucane Q&A: Explaining the inquiry

His inquiry is irrelevant in the whole scheme of things and there should be a full independent public inquiry.

The report looks at what happened in Northern Ireland and somehow tries to point out errors in the system.

Errors that might be fixed in the future to prevent things from happening again.

But the fact is that no error was made - a very deliberate policy was put in place, a very systematic policy, one that was fully resourced and fully supported throughout all of the years that it was in operation.

It was a policy of state-selected assassination. Loyalist paramilitaries were recruited as proxy killers for the government eventually, since that is where all policy emanates from, and those persons were allowed to kill with impunity.

The judicial process was misconceived as a solution because even if prosecutions are recommended, those involved could claim they were just following orders.

I have to say that if they made that defence to the charges they would probably be right.

My family still believes the investigation was designed to cover-up the truth.

There is a systematic element to this matter. It is something which lies, we believe, within the heart of government, within the heart of the Ministry of Defence and MI5 and within the upper echelons of the British army establishment.

I am not going away anywhere. I will keep the pressure on and I will keep reminding the government of its obligations.