CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION MINISTER EVASIVE ON LUDLOW QUERY Dermot Ahern T

The Celtic League, 15 May 2001:

CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION

MINISTER EVASIVE ON LUDLOW QUERY

Dermot Ahern T.D., Irish Social Affairs Minister has sidestepped a
query from the Celtic League about the controversy surrounding the
murder of Co. Louth forestry worker, Seamus Ludlow.

Mr. Ludlow was murdered on the 2nd of May 1976. It is believed that
his killers were a loyalist murder gang and there is also a suspicion
of complicity by the British security forces.

Recently, following a demonstration to commemorate the 25th anniversary
of the murder Mr. Ahern reiterated the governments unwillingness to
accede to the families request for an independent public enquiry.
The League had written challenging this inertia and urging a rethink.
However, in a reply from the Ministers Office, his Private Secretary
Aongus Horgan says that " As this matter is proper to the Department
of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister has passed your
letter to his colleague, John O'Donoghue T.D., Minister for Justice.

The Celtic League have a great deal of respect for Mr. Ahern particularly
in relation to assistance and cooperation he has shown in the past.
However, to intervene with public comment which coincided with relatives
attempts to highlight the inertia over the Ludlow slaying and then
sidestep the issue indicates questionable judgment in this matter.

It is high time that all government Ministers from the Taoiseach down
adopted a more positive stance in relation to uncovering the truth
about British military involvement in the murder of Irish citizens
peacefully going about their business.

Bernard Moffatt

Celtic League

15/05/01

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries of the
western British Isles and Brittany. It works to promote cooperation
between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political,
cultural and environmental matters. It targets human rights abuse
and monitors all military activity within these areas.

TEL (UK)01624 627128 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/index.html

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Further Celtic League Statements

LOUTH MURDER - ENQUIRY CALL SUPPORT - 07/29/02

LUDLOW MURDER DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT - 07/17/02

No.346 LUDLOW - GOVT URGED TO HEED ENQUIRY CALL - 4/30/2001

No.239 LUDLOW MURDER - PROPOSALS SOON - 2/1/2001

No.164 MURDER GANG ENQUIRY CALL - 10/30/2000

Press Reports

The Irish Independent, 19 July 2002: Fresh inquest into death of murdered man

The Irish News, 19 July 2002: Family welcome inquest 26 years after murder

The Irish Times, 19 July 2002: New inquest ordered into Louth man's death

The Dundalk Democrat, 20 July 2002: Second inquest to be held into the death of Seamus Ludlow

The Sunday Life, 28 July 2002: Inquest to name Ludlow killers

The Irish Examiner Online - Breaking News, 29 July 2002: Call for public inquiry into 1976 murder

Ulster Television (UTV), online 29 July 2002: Celtic League in demand over murder

The Examiner, 30 July 2002: Ludlow killers to be named

The Irish News, 6 August 2002: Celtic League to fight on for murder inquiry

The Argus (Dundalk), 23 August 2002: Coroner wants the law changed to compel witnesses to attend inquests

The Irish News, 27 August 2002, Loyalist victim's family call for answers