Apology schmology

So the British government have come clean and taken ownership of the Pat Finucane murder in 1989. David Cameron yesterday made a statement in parliament following a meeting with the murdered lawyer’s wife Geraldine and family representatives. Perfectly admirable some might venture. A closure perhaps. It was heading that way before it was reported that a full enquiry would not take place. The services of a QC were offered to read the existing volumes on the case. A slap in the face for the family. However, what followed was more of a punch in the teeth disguised as an apology. Cameron’s mitigation at the end of his highly tailored speech was nothing short of despicable and a thin coat of crocodile tears for the Finucane family. To point out that “…by far the largest number of deaths were the responsibility of the Provisional IRA…” removed all semblance of an apology and instead dressed it up as ‘justifiable homicide’ by implication.

I am sure Geraldine Finucane and her three children must feel so much better when they relive the unforgettable horror of the fourteen bullets rip through husband and father as they sat at the dinner table when they remember that, in the eyes of the British Government, there was, after all, justification.

They can dress this up how they like but at least the terrorist organisations had the balls to claim responsibilities. After twenty two years the British government still cannot cleanly claim theirs.