Born in Belfast in 1980, John Finucane read Law with History at the University of Dundee before completing his Legal Practice Course in Newcastle before returning to Belfast to work as a solicitor specialising in human rights advocacy. Elected to Belfast City Council in 2019 to represent the Castle Electoral Area, Finucane focused on celebrating diversity during his term as Lord Mayor. Unusually though Finucane only served as Lord Mayor until December 2019 as he was elected as MP to Westminster for Belfast North. This was the first time since 1942 that a Lord Mayor could not complete their full term of office.