Dr Farry was speaking after the Court said a UK Government ruled the murder had not been subject to an Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights compliant investigation and added none of the previous inquiries into the killing had been capable of establishing ‘all of the salient facts’ about it.
“This is a significant judgement and the onus now falls on the UK Government to study this decision and respond to it promptly,” said Dr Farry.
“While the Supreme Court’s ruling has not been prescriptive, it would appear a public inquiry is the only way forward in this matter, due to the serious public interest issues at stake. There needs to be a process put in place compliant with Article 2. Furthermore, there has been a history of commitments made to an inquiry by the UK Government since 2001. There are major issues of public interest that do need to be examined comprehensively.
“All those who have suffered tragedy throughout the Troubles are hurting and seeking truth. In parallel, proposals on how to deal sensitively and respectfully with the past were decided as part of the Stormont House Agreement, and there is a vital need to establish a comprehensive set of institutions based on them, as well as funding legacy inquests based on the proposals from the Lord Chief Justice.
“Only by doing that can we deliver the justice these families deserve and allow us as a society to move on in a way inclusive to the needs of all.”