A Tangled Web

Creeps and Camaraderie



Geraldine Finucane, widow of 'human rights solicitor' and 'liar, liar, pants on fire', Pat Finucane was yesterday heartened by the support she will receive from Bertie Ahern if she decides to withdraw support for the proposed enquiry into the events surrounding her husband's departure from this mortal coil.



I suppose I shouldn't be so taken aback by still another demonstration of Paddy fraternity from the Free State scoundrels. Disingenuous guff about 'reaching out to Unionists and understanding their concerns' is always subsumed under the weight of republican camaraderie. In this particular case, the Irish Government is providing a comfort blanket to the spawn of man who liked to con the world into thinking he was some sort of saintly solicitor, but who in reality was a central cog in the Provisionals' machinery.



Will the Irish be as forthcoming if the families of Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan are unhappy with the terms of reference surrounding their enquiries? Can the Irish State apologise for harbouring IRA terrorists, and turning a blind eye to much of their activities, throughout thirty years of the Troubles? Will the Irish care to explain how Garda officers conveniently disposed of vital evidence which could have convicted those responsible for the Warrenpoint atrocity in 1979?



I suspect the answer to all of the above - and more - would be a resounding 'No!'. For, at the end of the day, the canonisation and martyrdom of a thoroughly unpleasant piece of work like Finucane takes precedence over the lives of victims untainted by whiff of cordite. I see dear Geraldine was accompanied by her son, Michael. I'm surprised he could find the time to travel to Dublin considering all those republican orgies he attends with startling frequency.