Pat Finucane

Pat Finucane was a Belfast lawyer who specialised in defending people accused of paramilitary offences in Northern Ireland.

He was shot and killed by loyalist paramilitaries on 12 February 1989, in his home in North Belfast, in front of his wife and three children.

The killing was later found to have been part of a conspiracy involving the British security forces.

Finucane was born in Belfast in 1949, the son of a shipyard worker. He attended St Malachy's College and Queen's University Belfast, where he studied law.

After graduating, he worked as a solicitor at a number of law firms in Belfast, before setting up his own practice in 1983.

Finucane quickly became known as one of the leading defence lawyers in Northern Ireland. He represented a number of high-profile republicans, including Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

He also represented a number of loyalists, including Michael Stone, who was convicted of murdering three people in the Milltown Cemetery massacre.

Finucane's work was often controversial. He was accused of being too close to the IRA, and of using his position as a lawyer to shield its members from prosecution.

However, Finucane's supporters argued that he was simply doing his job, and that he believed that everyone, regardless of their political or religious beliefs, was entitled to a fair trial.

On 12 February 1989, Finucane was shot and killed by loyalist paramilitaries in his home in North Belfast.

The killing was later found to have been part of a conspiracy involving the British security forces.

In 2004, the British government ordered an inquiry into the killing. The inquiry, which was chaired by Lord Stevens, found that there had been "collusion" between the British security forces and the loyalist paramilitaries.

The inquiry also found that the British government had failed to properly investigate the killing, and that there had been a cover-up.

The British government has since apologised for the killing, and has paid compensation to Finucane's family.

Finucane's killing was a tragedy. He was a talented lawyer and a passionate advocate for human rights.

His death was a loss to the legal profession, to Northern Ireland, and to the world.