Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane was shot dead by loyalists in 1989

SINN Féin election candidate John Finucane has said he has contacted police over online comments mocking the murder of his father.

Solicitor Pat Finucane was shot dead by a loyalist gang in front of his wife and children in his north Belfast home in 1989.

John Finucane, who followed his father into the legal profession, was eight years old at the time.

The North Belfast candidate said yesterday he had made a complaint to the PSNI "as a result of three tweets that have been sent directly to me".

"These tweets mock and show open support for the murder of my father, who was killed in front of me and my family in 1989," he said.

"One further tweet expresses regret that I too was not murdered along with my father.

"The tweets will now be subject to a criminal investigation along with an investigation by Twitter also.

"Online abuse which enters into criminality cannot, and should not be tolerated by anyone in society and I look forward to working along with the PSNI in ensuring this is dealt with appropriately."