In the Sinn Fein cult, which glories in bloodthirsty terrorist exploits, you only get to be “republican royalty” through services rendered. While Pat Finucane has been bestowed the title of “human rights lawyer”, he was the solicitor of choice for the greatest abuser of human rights, the IRA. 

His near relatives were steeped in IRA terrorism, with brothers John, Dermot and Seamus particularly notorious. 

Of course, the murder of Pat Finucane was wrong, but the preferential treatment of this family by successive governments is beyond belief. Pat Finucane was not the only lawyer murdered: Lord Justice Gibson and his wife, Judge Rory Conaghan, Judge William Doyle, RMs Martin McBirney and William Staunton and law lecturer Edgar Graham were all murdered. But they were only victims of the IRA, so no inquiries for them! Nor for the murderous attack on RM Tom Travers, as he left mass, in which his daughter Mary was killed. 

Offered a public inquiry in 2004, the Finucane family rejected it. The Labour Government of the day sought to placate them by passing the Inquiries Act of 2005, but, again, that was not enough. Successive fresh investigations and enquiries ensued, but none sufficed. A conviction for murder did nothing to appease their orchestrated and calculated agenda to humiliate the British state. Even a Prime Ministerial apology from David Cameron just fed the crocodile. 

For victims who lost their lives at the hands of the murderous IRA, and who have seen no inquiries or apologies, only the ICRIR is offered. But for the Finuncanes, and them alone, there must be something better. Never mind the fact the ICRIR is Art 2 of ECHR compliant, independent and with powers to compel documents and witnesses, for republican royalty there must be squandered more millions on a bespoke, full blown public inquiry that will never satisfy those determined not to be satisfied. 

As for the victims of La Mon, Kingsmills, Teeban, Tullyvallen or “Bloody Friday” they should expect no justice, just platitudes, from a government demonstrating it is beholden to the forces aligned to the victim-makers. 

By rolling over to the Finucane demand for a full public inquiry the Government has confirmed this odious hierarchy of victims which yields preferential treatment for IRA acolytes and lesser regard for their victims. Little wonder the innocent are angry and alienated. 

This public inquiry, as demanded by the Finucanes, is designed to excoriate the security forces, but will not investigate, at all, his IRA-linked activities. The late Lord Trimble rightly demanded that any inquiry should indeed include a probe into his activities. The government could include this in the terms of reference but will not. For this is not an exercise in balance but in pandering.