MP demands apology for 'IRA lawyers' Commons remark

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 20:02 · Archive

A Conservative MP has faced calls to apologise after making remarks about 'IRA lawyers' in Parliament.

Conservative MP David Davis made remarks about 'IRA lawyers' during a House of Commons debate on amendments to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. North Belfast Sinn Féin MP John Finucane has written an open letter calling on him to apologise and withdraw the comments.

Finucane likened the remarks to those made by Conservative colleague Douglas Hogg in January 1989. Less than four weeks after Hogg's comments, Finucane's father, solicitor Pat Finucane, was murdered by loyalists acting in collusion with British state forces. Finucane was eight years old at the time and witnessed his father's death in their family home.

The Law Society of Northern Ireland has said Mr Davis needs to withdraw the comments, noting the similarity to Hogg's 1989 remarks. In his open letter, Finucane recalled meeting Davis in a Belfast courtroom in 2019, where Davis had spoken about justice, accountability and the rule of law. Finucane wrote that Davis 'demonstrated how little they appear to matter when it comes to Irish victims seeking accountability from the British state'.

How it is being reported

• ‘IRA lawyers’ comment blasted as ‘shameful’ by NI First MinisterMichelle O’Neill was speaking after Conservative Party MP Sir David Davis used the phrase during a contribution to the debate in the House of Commons on the Government’s Legacy Bill.Belfast Live · 21 Oct, 20:22
• ‘IRA lawyers’ comment blasted as ‘shameful’ by NI First MinisterBelfast Telegraph · 21 Oct, 19:51
• Sinn Féin MP demands apology from Tory MP over ‘IRA lawyers’ remark in CommonsJohn Finucane says comments echo those made weeks before his father’s murderBelfast Telegraph · 21 Oct, 19:50
• North Belfast MP John Finucane writes letter to David Davis after 'contemptible' IRA lawyers remark'Shame on you, David.'Belfast Live · 21 Oct, 14:57

In this story: John Finucane · David Davis · Pat Finucane · Douglas Hogg · Sinn Féin · Law Society of Northern Ireland · North Belfast

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem