Campbell urges Paterson to call it a day on inquiries

He said an inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989 would be opposed by nationalists and republicans and would encourage unionists to call for an inquiry into the conduct of the Irish Republic during the Troubles.

Mr Campbell asked the Secretary of State in the House of Commons what recent discussions he has had on steps to deal with the past in Northern Ireland.

Mr Paterson explained how he had met with political parties, community organisations, academics and victims groups from across the community to discuss dealing with the past.

He promised to listen to the views of people in Northern Ireland “to find a way forward on this sensitive and contentious issue.”

But the East Londonderry MP told the Minister that there was no scope for any further expensive open-ended inquiries into the past.

He cited the Pat Finucane case as an example. Mr Paterson has said he will consider the public interest of an inquiry into Mr Finucane’s murder carefully and take a decision in the New Year whether or not to hold a public inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane.

Addressing the Secretary of State at Westminster, Mr Campbell said: “The Secretary of State made a commitment, which he repeated several times, that there would be no more costly, open-ended inquiries.

“Any decision by him to hold a further, restricted inquiry-for example, into the Pat Finucane incident-would be opposed on the one hand by nationalists and republicans, but regarded by others as a prerequisite for long-standing grievances, against the Irish Republic’s Government, for example, to be inquired into.

“Is it not more sensible and consistent for the Secretary of State to say, ‘We’ve reached the end of the inquiry road’?”

Mr Paterson replied: “I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question. He is quite right: our stated policy is that we do not want to see any more costly and open-ended inquiries.

“However, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said during the debate on the Saville statement that we would look at individual cases.

“Our position on the Finucane case-a contentious case, as the hon. Gentleman knows-was laid out clearly in my written ministerial statement on 11 November.”

In September 2004 Mr Paterson’s predecessor Paul Murphy said he would take steps to establish a public inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane in 1989. But to date no such inquiry has been established.