[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 267 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 267

  Urging a full and impartial inquiry into the murder of attorney Pat 
                 Finucane in 1989 in Northern Ireland.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 25, 2003

  Mr. Payne submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Urging a full and impartial inquiry into the murder of attorney Pat 
                 Finucane in 1989 in Northern Ireland.

Whereas the murder of attorney Pat Finucane in 1989 in Northern Ireland, in the 
        absence of any other apparent motive, appears to have been politically-
        motivated and has not been addressed by an adequate investigation into 
        the possibility of a conspiracy by political factions;
Whereas the European Court of Human Rights recently issued a finding in which it 
        criticized the investigation of the murder of Pat Finucane for not 
        addressing the possibility of collusion by partisan paramilitary forces;
Whereas Amnesty International, British Irish Rights Watch, and the Committee on 
        the Administration of Justice each welcomed this finding by the European 
        Court of Human Rights;
Whereas retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, appointed by the Government of the 
        United Kingdom and the Government of Ireland to examine the murder of 
        Pat Finucane and five other controversial murders in Northern Ireland, 
        has finished his investigation of collusion allegations surrounding 
        Finucane's murder and will provide the results of his investigation in 
        late 2003, including whether or not the collusion allegations merit a 
        full judicial inquiry;
Whereas, in addition, the Government of the United Kingdom has been ordered to 
        pay Mrs. Finucane $51,000 for the death of her husband; and
Whereas the satisfactory resolution of this heinous felony is important in order 
        to maintain a lasting peace in Northern Ireland: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) acknowledges the finding of the European Court of Human 
        Rights in which it criticized the investigation of the murder 
        of attorney Pat Finucane in 1989 in Northern Ireland for not 
        addressing the possibility of collusion by partisan 
        paramilitary forces;
            (2) applauds the interest of the European Court of Human 
        Rights in determining the full circumstances behind the murder 
        of Pat Finucane;
            (3) recognizes the importance of resolving this matter as 
        soon as possible in order to maintain peace in Northern 
        Ireland; and
            (4) encourages the Government of the United Kingdom to 
        appoint an independent judicial body to conduct a full and 
        impartial inquiry into this matter and to promptly prosecute 
        those individuals who are responsible for having committed this 
        atrocious crime.
                                 <all>