IN the review contributed by Robert Kee of a book entitled: Rebel Hearts: Journeys within he IRA's soul published on April 8th 1995, there was a most serious error.
The review wrongly stated that the book contained an interview with the "two I.R.A. sons of the late Patrick Finucane, Solicitor.
This statement was false. There is no interview with either son in the book in question. There is no comment by either or any statement attributed to either. The statement to the contrary was the result of a very serious and inexplicable error.
This error. was made all the more serious by its immediate and tragic background. Mr Patrick Finucane, the father of the two young men referred to, was murdered following wide publicity given to a statement by a British Minister. The Irish Times and Robert Kee most sincerely regret the accidental publication of this total falsity about Mr Finucane's sons and the undoubted distress and damage it has caused to them.
The Irish Times and Mr Robert Kee are happy, positively, to accept that neither son has at any time been a member of or connected in any way with the IRA or any such organisation. Substantial damages have been paid to each son and their legal costs have been discharged in full.