Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed by the government to chair the inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

Last September, it was announced that an independent public inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death would be set up.

The 39-year-old was shot at his home in Belfast by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his wife and children.

Several examinations of the case have found evidence of state collusion in the killing.

The Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said that the "exceptional reason" of outstanding and unfulfilled commitments by previous UK governments to establish a public inquiry meant it should proceed.

The inquiry will be established under the 2005 Inquiries Act, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath.

Sir Gary is a former Court of Appeals judge who also chaired the Post Office Overturned Convictions Independent Pecuniary Losses Assessment Panel and the Horizon Convictions Redress Panel.

The government has also confirmed the appointment of former Police Ombudsman Baroness Nuala O'Loan, and international human rights lawyer Francesca Del Mese, as assessors to the inquiry.

Widow welcomes appointment

Mr Finucane's widow Geraldine issued a statement through Finucane Toner solicitors welcoming the appointment.

Describing it as a long-overdue development, she said in the 36 years since her husband's murder "my family has had to fight tirelessly to uncover the truth".

"We now look forward to engaging with the chair and his inquiry team so that this process can finally begin," she said.

"It is our hope that the inquiry will be permitted to carry out its work with full independence and with all of the powers, resources and support necessary to answer the serious and longstanding questions surrounding Pat's murder."

Confirming the announcement via a written statement to parliament, Benn said: "The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

"I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one and I am confident that this Inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly."

Benn said he was delighted that the chair had accepted the position.

"I am confident that, together, their valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the Inquiry," he said.

Sir Gary said he was "privileged" to take on responsibility for leading the public inquiry.

"At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible," he added.

The government said it will undertake a consultation exercise with the chair on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry, which will be agreed and published in due course.

The Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said he "very much welcomed the announcement".

"This is the final outstanding inquiry from those that were recommended by Judge (Peter) Cory in 2004, and it is positive that it can now move to beginning its important and substantive work," he said.

"Today's announcement highlights the importance that a way forward is found to comprehensively address all the outstanding cases of the Troubles, in a way that is human rights compliant and that has the needs of victims and families at its heart."

Who was Pat Finucane?

Pat Finucane was a well-known defence solicitor who frequently acted for high profile IRA members.

He also represented loyalists in his work.

In February 1989 he was shot 14 times by two gunmen.

His wife, Geraldine, was also wounded.

One of his sons is the Sinn Féin MP John Finucane.

At an inquest into his death police refuted claims that Mr Finucane was in the IRA.

In 2012, Sir Desmond de Silva's report into the murder found there was agent involvement and that police took no action on threat intelligence regarding Mr Finucane.