12 February 1989 - Pat Finucane shot dead at his home in north Belfast by UFF/UDA
April 1998 - British government rejects a call by the United Nations for an independent inquiry
April 1999 - Sir John Stevens, then deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, appointed to carry out an investigation into the lawyer’s murder
June 1999 - Former UDA quartermaster William Stobie is charged with the murder of Mr Finucane
2000 - Amnesty International calls for public inquiry
2001 - Stobie case collapses and two months later he is shot dead by loyalists
2001 - Retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory appointed to investigate allegations of collusion in the Finucane murder
April 2003 - Stevens Report says rogue elements within the police and army helped loyalist paramilitaries to murder Catholics in the late 1980s
The Finucane family reiterates its call for a full, independent, public inquiry
May 2003 - Loyalist Ken Barrett charged with Finucane murder
April 2004 - Cory Report concludes that military and police intelligence knew of the murder plot but failed to intervene. Judge Cory recommends a public inquiry. The government refuses until the criminal proceedings against Barrett are completed
September 2004- Ken Barrett sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment and Northern Ireland Office announces an inquiry and plans to introduce legislation
2005 - The Inquiries Act 2005 introduced and led to the creation of Hamill, Nelson and Wright inquiries. However the Finucane family opposed the new law, fearing it would enable the government to interfere with the independence of any future inquiry
Autumn 2006 - Plans to set up an inquiry into the murder of Mr Finucane are halted by the then Secretary of State Peter Hain
June 2007 -The Public Prosecution Service says insufficient evidence to charge police or soldiers in connection with the Finucane murder
November 2010 - Then the Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, says he will decide in the new year whether there should be a public inquiry into the murder
May 2011 - The Finucane family say they expect to hear soon that the government will hold a full inquiry
October 2011 -The British government rules out an inquiry into Mr Finucane’s murder but puts forward a proposal for a leading QC, Sir Desmond de Silva, to review the case
Taoiseach Enda Kenny says he will push for a public inquiry, after meeting Pat Finucane’s widow
January 2012 -The Finucane family win the right to a judicial review over the government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry
Sir Desmond de Silva with his report into the murder Sir Desmond de Silva with his report into the murder
December 2012 -Sir Desmond de Silva’s review confirms that agents of the state were involved in the loyalist murder of Pat Finucane but said there was “no overarching state conspiracy”. Finucane family brand it a “sham” and a “whitewash”
June 2015 - Finucane family lose a judicial review of the prime minister’s decision to rule out a public inquiry
February 2017 - The Court of Appeal in Belfast dismisses an appeal against the decision not to hold a public inquiry
June 2018 - Case for a public inquiry goes before the Supreme Court
February 2019 - Supreme Court does not recommend a public inquiry
November 2020 - British government confirms it will not establish a public inquiry pending the outcome of continuing investigations
December 2022 - This decision is quashed by the High Court in Belfast
July 2024 - Court of Appeal orders British government to carry out a human right’s compliant investigation into murder
September 2024 – New Labour government confirms that an independent inquiry will now take place
