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Finucane calls Conservative MP's 'IRA lawyers' comments 'contemptible' Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Sir David Davis made his comments about "IRA lawyers" in the House of Commons on Tuesday By Catherine Morrison BBC News NI The son of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane has called on a Conservative MP to withdraw comments he made about "IRA lawyers" during a debate on legacy in the House of Commons. Sinn Féin MP John Finucane described Sir David Davis' remarks as "contemptible". During a contribution to the debate on the government's Troubles bill on Tuesday , Davis referred to "the activities of IRA lawyers in the courts".
He went on to say "IRA lawyers" were "more interested in drama than justice", quoting a British soldier involved in a legacy court case. In an open letter, Finucane called on Sir David to apologise to his family, and to the family of solicitor Rosemary Nelson , who was killed by loyalist paramilitaries in 1999. BBC News NI has approached Sir David Davis for comment.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Sinn Féin MP John Finucane's witnessed his father Pat Finucane be shot dead in their family home Finucane wrote: "I was eight years old. I watched my father being shot dead in front of me, in our family home. "I grew up without my father.
I became a solicitor, following in his footsteps, because I believed, as he did, in the rule of law. In the right of every person to legal representation. In the right of victims to challenge the powerful, including the state itself.
"And that is what makes your words so contemptible. "Would you dare speak about English solicitors in this way? Or do you believe Irish lawyers deserve less protection, less respect and fewer rights when they dare to challenge the British state?" Finucane also drew comparisons with remarks made by former Conservative minister Douglas Hogg shortly before his father's murder. 'Shameful and reprehensible,' says first minister Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, First Minister Michelle O'Neill described Sir David's comments as "shameful and reprehensible".
"You only have to look at the history of this place, we're talking about Garvaghy. "There was a human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson who stood up for the rights of the people on the Garvaghy Road, it's that type of language and rhetoric which led to her being killed." O'Neill continued: "It is totally disgraceful and I welcome the fact that lots of people across the legal profession are coming out very strongly today." Image source, PA Media Image caption, Rosemary Nelson also found herself in the the spotlight when she represented leading republican Colin Duffy The President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Mark Borland, has also called on Sir David to withdraw the comments, which Borland said could make lawyers more vulnerable. "I am therefore concerned about the impact that these comments could have on our members while tensions are currently high in Northern Ireland," he said.
"Language that associates legal professionals with paramilitary organisations or associates lawyers with the views of their clients is grossly irresponsible; it risks encouraging hostility towards practitioners carrying out their professional duties and it undermines basic principles relating to access to justice and respect for the rule of law." 'A little caution' Following Sir David's comments - in which he repeated the words of an acquaintance who he claimed said "IRA lawyers are 'more interested in drama than justice'"- Democratic Unionist Party (MUP) MP Carla Lockhart described his speech was "powerful". SDLP MP Claire Hanna then asked "people to be careful with their language, when they use terms like 'IRA lawyers'". "Do members know what has happened to people in the past when they have been named in this Chamber as IRA lawyers?," she asked.
"They were shot dead in front of their families. Can we have a little caution in some of the language we are using?"
Source: BBC
