Sinn Féin MP John Finucane has called for the withdrawal of remarks made in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Sir David Davis, who referred to "IRA lawyers" during a debate on the government's Troubles legacy bill.

Davis made the comments on Tuesday, saying "IRA lawyers" were "more interested in drama than justice" and quoting a British soldier involved in a legacy court case.

In an open letter, Finucane described the comments as "contemptible" and asked Sir David to apologise to his family and to the family of Rosemary Nelson, a solicitor killed by loyalist paramilitaries in 1999.

Finucane, who witnessed his father Pat Finucane being shot dead in their family home when he was eight years old, wrote that he became a solicitor following in his father's footsteps because he believed in the rule of law and the right of every person to legal representation.

He challenged Davis, asking whether he would speak about English solicitors in the same way, or whether he believed Irish lawyers deserve less protection.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill called the remarks "shameful and reprehensible," linking the language to the killing of Rosemary Nelson, a human rights lawyer who represented residents of the Garvaghy Road area.

"You only have to look at the history of this place, we're talking about Garvaghy," O'Neill said. "There was a human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson who stood up for the rights of the people on the Garvaghy Road, it's that type of language and rhetoric which led to her being killed."

The Law Society of Northern Ireland also called for withdrawal of the comments, with President Mark Borland expressing concern about the impact on lawyers' safety.

"Language that associates legal professionals with paramilitary organisations or associates lawyers with the views of their clients is grossly irresponsible; it risks encouraging hostility towards practitioners carrying out their professional duties," Borland said.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart described Davis's speech as "powerful," while SDLP MP Claire Hanna urged caution with language, pointing out that people named in the chamber as "IRA lawyers" in the past were shot dead in front of their families.

BBC News NI approached Sir David Davis for comment.