[caption id="attachment_69269" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Pat Finucane's son John and his widow Geraldine "]
The family of Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane have won the right to a judicial review over the British government's refusal to hold a public inquiry into his murder.
Mr. Finucane was shot dead in his north Belfast home by the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters in 1989.
The family, who believe that British security forces colluded with loyalists in his murder, wanted a judicial review of the British government's decision to appoint a lawyer to investigate the case, this instead of a full public inquiry, which had been previously promised.
The judicial review into that decision will now take place in May.
Speaking at the High Court in Belfast, Mr. Finucane's widow Geraldine said: "I am very pleased that he has granted us leave to go forward to a full judicial review hearing and I think the significant aspect of it was that it was completely unopposed.
"It was surprising but a very pleasant surprise for a change."
Last October, British Prime Minister David Cameron asked the Finucanes to come to Downing Street where he told the family that Sir Desmond de
Silva would carry out a review into the murder.
Pat Finucane's son, Michael, said Sir Desmond's review completely excluded his family from participation.
"We are to be expected, after all this time and all the revelations that have emerged about the murder, to take the government's word for it," he said.
"In a nutshell, the murder of Pat Finucane has produced evidence that may implicate the British government in the murder of a solicitor, an officer of the court.
"Who in their right minds would take the government's word for anything in a case such as that? That is the reason why this review is unsatisfactory.
"It's why we've taken court proceedings and it is why we must have a public inquiry, so we, and the public at large can be happy and satisfied and confident that this case has been properly investigated and such a thing shall never happen again."
SDLP justice spokersperson, Alban Maginness, welcomed the decision to grant leave for a judicial review.
"The SDLP very much welcomes the news that the Finucanes have been granted leave to seek a judicial review and we back their continued efforts and application and wish them every success in May and beyond," he said.
"I hope that this can persuade the present British government to honor the commitment set by the previous government to grant a judicial inquiry into this murder.
"The British government should regard the Finucanes' going to court as unnecessary and honor that commitment," he said.
