O'Donnell emphasises crucial importance of human rights in peace process
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Liz O'Donnell TD, met at Iveagh House today with the family of Mr. Pat Finucane on the tenth anniversary of the murder of the prominent defence lawyer.
At the meeting, the Finucane family handed over a confidential report by the respected human rights NGO British Irish Rights Watch in which detailed new allegations of collusion by the security forces in the death of Pat Finucane are made.
In thanking the group for the report, the Minister assured them that it would receive immediate attention. The Minister also emphasised the crucial importance of human rights in the overall approach of the Government to the peace process.
The Minister highlighted the fact that the Government had already urged that the call of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Mr. Param Cumaraswamy, for an independent judicial inquiry into the case be seriously considered, and welcomed the support offered by lawyers and NGOs such as Amnesty International for an inquiry.
