[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 740 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 740

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                          May 17, 2006.
Whereas human rights defense attorney and solicitor Patrick Finucane was 
        brutally murdered in front of his wife and children at his home in 
        Belfast on February 12, 1989;
Whereas many international bodies and nongovernmental human rights 
        organizations, including Amnesty International, British Irish Rights 
        Watch, the Committee for the Administration of Justice, and Human Rights 
        First, have called attention to serious allegations of collusion between 
        loyalist paramilitaries and British security forces in the murder of Mr. 
        Finucane;
Whereas in July 2001 the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom under 
        terms of the Weston Park Agreement appointed retired Canadian Judge 
        Peter Cory to investigate the allegations of collusion between loyalist 
        paramilitaries and British security forces in the murder of Mr. Finucane 
        and other individuals;
Whereas Judge Cory reported to the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom 
        in April 2004 that sufficient evidence of collusion existed to warrant a 
        public independent, judicial inquiry into the murder of Mr. Finucane and 
        recommended that a public inquiry take place without delay;
Whereas the Government of the United Kingdom in April 2005 adopted the Inquiries 
        Act 2005 which empowers the Government to block scrutiny of state 
        actions and limits independent action by the judiciary in inquiries held 
        under its terms, and, after the enactment of this legislation 
        establishing new limited inquiry procedures, the Government announced 
        that an inquiry into the murder of Mr. Finucane would be established 
        which would operate under terms of the new legislation;
Whereas Judge Cory, in a written statement presented to the Committee on 
        International Relations of the House of Representatives in 2005, stated 
        that his 2004 recommendation for a public inquiry into the murder of Mr. 
        Finucane had ``contemplated a true public inquiry constituted and acting 
        pursuant to the provisions of the 1921 Act'' (the Tribunals of Inquiry 
        (Evidence) Act 1921), and also stated that ``it seems to me that the 
        proposed new Act would make a meaningful inquiry impossible'';
Whereas the family of Mr. Finucane has rejected the limited authority of an 
        inquiry conducted under terms of the Inquiries Act of 2005;
Whereas Amnesty International, British Irish Rights Watch, the Committee for the 
        Administration of Justice, and Human Rights First have likewise rejected 
        any proposed inquiry into the murder of Mr. Finucane established under 
        procedures of the Inquiries Act of 2005 and have called for the repeal 
        of the Act;
Whereas the Dial Eireann (Parliament of Ireland) adopted a resolution on March 
        8, 2006, calling for the establishment of a full public independent 
        judicial inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane; and
Whereas the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 
        107-228) and House Resolution 128 (April 20, 1999) support the 
        establishment of a public independent judicial inquiry into the murder 
        of Patrick Finucane: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses to the family of Patrick Finucane deepest condolences 
        on his death, commends their steadfast pursuit of justice in his brutal 
        murder, and thanks his wife Geraldine and son Michael for their 
        willingness to testify on this matter before committees of the House of 
        Representatives on numerous occasions;
            (2) supports the efforts of the Administration in seeking the full 
        implementation of the Weston Park Agreement and the establishment of an 
        independent judicial inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane;
            (3) calls on the Government of the United Kingdom to reconsider its 
        position on the matter of an inquiry into the murder of Mr. Finucane, to 
        amend the Inquiries Act of 2005, and to take fully into account the 
        objections of Judge Cory, objections raised by officials of the United 
        States Government, other governments, and international bodies, and the 
        objections raised by Mr. Finucane's family; and
            (4) urges the Government of the United Kingdom immediately to 
        establish a full, independent, and public judicial inquiry into the 
        murder of Patrick Finucane which would enjoy the full cooperation and 
        support of his family, the people of Northern Ireland, and the 
        international community as recommended by Judge Cory.



            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.