The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, published the terms of reference for a public inquiry into the 1989 murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. The 39-year-old was shot dead at his home in Belfast on 12 February 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association.

Sir Gary Hickinbottom will chair the inquiry. It aims to examine the broad circumstances of the murder and any state involvement. Previous probes identified UDA members Brian Nelson, Ken Barrett, and Billy Stobie, who were state agents, as connected to the killing.

On 17 January 1989, Douglas Hogg stated in the House of Commons that some solicitors in Northern Ireland showed undue sympathy to the IRA cause. Seamus Mallon of the SDLP condemned the remarks.

Earlier investigations include the Stevens inquiries led by John Stevens in 1989, 1995, and 2003; Peter Cory's 2004 review; and Desmond de Silva's 2012 review. Each found evidence of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and security forces.

In February 2019, the UK Supreme Court ruled that prior investigations failed to uncover full facts or meet Article 2 European Convention on Human Rights standards for deaths involving state agents.