Press Release from the Finucane family

16 September 2004 --

The guilty plea and sentencing of Ken Barrett today has never been our
main concern. We have continually asked for the truth.

Barrett's plea of guilty means that much of that truth remains hidden.

The Stevens investigation, no matter how thorough, and any
prosecutions arising out of it, including that of Barrett, will never
come close to establishing the truth.

We can only get the truth if we are involved in the process.

The truth can only be established when we have the entitlement to
question the relevant witnesses and scrutinise the relevant documentation.

We have had no input into Barrett's prosecution and trial. We have
seen none of the evidence nor would we ever have had the opportunity
to challenge that evidence even if the trial had proceeded.

Prosecutions are controlled by the Director of Public Prosecutions and
we are entirely excluded from that process. The Government, of course,
is fully aware of this, which is why it is continuing with
prosecutions and trials against our wishes.

It is outrageous that the Government is continuing its pretence that
our concerns and that of the public can be satisfied by prosecutions
and trials.

The Government has run out of excuses for delaying the establishment
of a public inquiry into Pat's murder.

It is now time for the Government to comply with its promise at Weston
Park and its personal commitment to Judge Cory and indeed its
international obligations.

Our campaign to seek the truth will continue and we will not be
discouraged or disheartened by a callous government continuing its own
campaign of delay, cover-up and spin.

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