Mr Flanagan delivered the annual Pat Finucane lecture in Belfast’s Europa Hotel last night.

According to Belfast Media Group, he said: “As a solicitor myself, I remember the shock which the murder of Pat Finucane, and later of Rosemary Nelson, caused amongst the entire legal profession on this island. As with any murder, these killings visited tragedy upon families and violence upon society; but this was further amplified by the chilling sense of an attack on the law itself.

“The firm view of the Irish Government remains that a satisfactory outcome to this case will best be achieved through a full public inquiry.

“I want to underline that this is not about making a special case of one victim but rather about the importance of honouring commitments made – in this case by the British Government at Weston Park – almost 16 years ago.”

He continued: “The constancy of Geraldine Finucane and her family in honouring the memory of Pat Finucane, and in seeking truth and justice on his behalf, should renew our determination to finish the job set out in the Good Friday Agreement almost two decades ago and to now establish the legacy institutions for dealing with the past. To honour our commitments to the victims and survivors and for the benefit of wider society. That time is now.”