British Finucane shame

A chairde,

Three weeks before Patrick Finucane's murder, the Parliamentary Under-Secratary of State for the British Home Office, Douglas Hogg MP, told the House of Commons: `There are in Northern Ireland a number of solicitors who are unduly sympathetic to the cause of the IRA.' No names were mentioned but in the world of the Northern Irish criminal courts it was clear to see at whom these comments were directed. Patrick Finucanes actions in pioneering a variety of legal devices to win compensation for or defend his clients interests against the British authorities, led to his success in whole range of cases that were embarrassing for the British Government. Patrick Finucane was a person who could not be pushed around as easily as people on the street, he was someone who could challenge and humble the judges and policemen in the courts. At the trial of a Crown agent in the Northern Irish courts, it has been revealed that British Military Intelligence had a high level spy at the heart of the UFF who manipulated the organisation's targets and supplied the UFF's active service unit with intelligence material on Patrick Finucane. It is appalling that the British state, based on democracy and the principle of treating all persons equally in accordance with the law, refuses to accede to its own sytem of justice, and continues to flagrantly forestall the truth behind the murder of Patrick Finucane being exposed.

Justin Mundin
Cardiff

Comment on Finucane Murder Investigation

Sir,

Three weeks before Patrick Finucanes murder the Parliamentary Under-Secratary of State for the British Home Office, Douglas Hogg MP, told the House of Commons: `There are in Northern Ireland a number of solicitors who are unduly sympathetic to the cause of the IRA.' No names were mentioned but in the world of the Northern Irish criminal courts it was clear to see at whom these comments were directed. Patrick Finucanes actions in pioneering a variety of legal devices to win compensation for or defend his clients interests against the British authorities, led to his success in whole range of cases that were embarrassing for the british Government. Patrick Finucane was a person who could not be pushed around as easily as people on the street, he was someone who could challenge and humble the judges and policemen in the courts. At the trial of a Crown agent in the Northern Irish courts, it has been revealed that British Military Intelligence had a high level spy at the heart of !

the UFF who manipulated the organisations targets, and supplied the UFF's active service unit with intelligence material on Patrick Finucane. It is appalling that the British state, based on democracy and the principle of treating all persons equally in accordance with the law, refuses to accede to its own sytem of justice, and continues to flagrantly forestall the truth behind the murder of Patrick Finucane being exposed.

Justin Mundin
124 Tewkesbury Street
Cathays
Cardiff CF2 4QS

Insufficient time for debate

A Chairde,

Please allow me to express my disappointment at one aspect of the running of this year's Ard Fheis, that is time allocation for discussion on motions put forward. I appreciate that the steering committee cannot facilitate every single person wanting to speak but at least they should allow the time allocated in the Clár. Do they not take into consideration the fact that a lot of time, thought and debate goes into forwarding the motions to the Ard Fheis and that it is soul destroying to be informed, whilst queuing up to speak, that the allocated time will be cut and then after delegates have spoken ``briefly''.

Granted, the steering committee said they would try to facilitate the delegates who had not been heard on the Saturday and would convene a half hour earlier on Sunday morning. For many this gesture was a nonstarter, however, due to travel arrangements and I feel somewhat let down. Hopefully it will not prevent them from putting in the hard work debating and forwarding other motions for next year's Ard Fheis.

Jackie Donnelly
North Belfast Comhairle Ceantair