The Belfast Telegraph, 30 March 2006:

Ludlow campaign continues

By Michael McHugh

The Irish parliamentary committee investigating the murder of SEamus Ludlow by loyalists in 1976 came under fire today for failing to recommend an independent public inquiry into the case.

Relatives of the Dundalk forestry worker and campaigners have condemned the decision by the Justice Committee to recommend a commission of Investigation, which would be conducted behind closed doors.

Mr Ludlow was picked up, allegedly by members of a Red Hand Commando gang based in north Down, and shot dead near his home in May 1976.

Nobody has ever been convicted of the killing despite the identities of four suspects being disclosed to Garda investigators in 1979. There are also suspicions of collusion between the Northern Ireland authorities and the murder gang.

Margaret Urwin from Justice for the Forgotten, a Dublin-based pressure group, said: "It seems that the committee is impervious to submissions and, however, good a case is made for a public inquiry, they will not recommend one," she said.

"There's a uniformity to all of this with the Dublin/Monaghan inquiries as well  recommending a private investigation."

At least two of the suspects, who were never interviewed by the Garda, were members of the UDR at the time of the attacks.

There were repeated references to collusion during the committee's hearings, from Mr Ludlow's family, lobbyist Jane Winter from British/Irish Rights Watch and journalist Ed Moloney.

Mr Ludlow's nephew Jimmy Sharkey said: "We need something of substance, we need an independent public inquiry with the power to compel witnesses"

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Download the Barron Report on the murder of Seamus Ludlow from the Oireachtas website (pdf file)

Download the Final Oireachtas Sub-Committee Report on the murder of Seamus Ludlow from the Oireachtas website (pdf file)

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