John Finucane elected Lord Mayor of Belfast

Belfast (Irish: Béal Feirste) now has a new Mayor, Sinn Féin Cllr John Finucane. He is the son of murdered Irish human rights lawyer Pat Finucane. In 1989 Pat Finucane (39) was shot dead by loyalists at his home in north Belfast, in front of his wife Geraldine, who was also injured, and their children Michael, Katherine and John.  It was found that loyalist paramilitaries acting in collusion with the British government intelligence service MI5 were involved in the murder. 

Two public investigations concluded that elements of the British security forces colluded in Pat Finucane's murder. A subsequent review carried out by lawyer Sir Desmond de Silva QC also confirmed agents of the state were involved. Former British Prime Minister David Cameron acknowledged “shocking levels of collusion”. Although he issued an apology he reneged on a previous administration’s commitment to hold a public inquiry into the killing. The campaign for an inquiry continues.

Mayor John Finucane has made it clear that as Mayor of Belfast he will be a representative of all the people of the city. He said   “I will also be focusing on economic prosperity, reaching out to the vulnerable and those on the margins, and making the council as green and as clean as possible.”