The Celtic League, 30 October 2000:

CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION

LEAGUE BACK MURDER GANG ENQUIRY CALL

The Celtic League has added its voice to calls for an independent enquiry into the murder of a Co. Louth man in 1976.

Seamus Ludlow a forestry worker was killed in an apparently sectarian attack by a Loyalist paramilitary gang. There is believed to have been knowledge of or complicity in the killing by the British Security Services.

In calls to the Irish Premier Bertie Ahern (attached) the League back calls for a public enquiry. Parallel correspondence to Northern Secretary (attached) queries if the extent of Security Services collusion was investigated by the RUC. The killers of Seamus Ludlow are apparently known to the police north and south of the border. However, as in other cases, their inertia in progressing a prosecution is unexplained.

Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General 
Celtic League 
30/10/00


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 and monitors all military activity within these areas

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Mr. Moffatt's letter to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern:

An Taoiseach
Mr. Bertie Ahern TD
Government Buildings
Kildare Street

Dublin 2
Ireland

Re. The Murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth, May 1976

Dear Mr. Ahern,

I write with reference to the death of Seamus Ludlow who was murdered on the night of 1/2 May 1976, inside County Louth, Ireland, by members of a Loyalist murder gang believed to be acting in concert with members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).

I understand that the family of Mr. Ludlow and supporters have for sometime been campaigning to achieve an open enquiry into the circumstances of his death. There have also been open and public concerns about the inability of the Police Services, north and south of the border, to bring the perpetrators of this crime to Justice.

We urge that an open and full enquiry is established into this incident. It is becoming increasingly obvious, with the passage of time, that a great number of crimes were perpetrated during this period with the active support of the British Security Services. It is therefore desirable that full and open enquiries are held into this, and other atrocities, so that the extent of this involvement can be tested.

Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt 
Secretary General 
Celtic League 
30/10/00


Mr. Moffatt's letter to Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue:

The Minister for Justice
Mr. John O'Donoghue TD
Department Of Justice
72-76 St. Stephens Green
Dublin 2
Ireland

Re. The Murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth, May 1976

Dear Minister,

I draw your attention to the attached letter to Mr. Ahern which supports calls by the Ludlow family for a full public enquiry into the circumstances of the death of Mr. Ludlow and subsequent failings on the part of the police services in Northern Ireland and the Republic to bring the perpetrators to justice.

I understand that in addition to calls for an open enquiry the Ludlow family has made repeated requests for the release of a Gárda Síochána investigation report from the 1998 inquiry, headed by Chief Superintendent Ted Murphy, and other relevant files from 1976 and 1979. 

If the State is not prepared to grant the family a full and open public enquiry can all relevant documentation pertinent to the Ludlow murder enquiry be released to them so that they can seek other avenues for redress of grievance?

Yours sincerely, 
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General 

Mr. Moffatt's letter to Mr. Peter Mandelson, British Secretary of State:

The Secretary of State for N. Ireland
Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
N. Ireland

Re. The Murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth, May 1976

Dear Secretary of State,

I refer you to the attached correspondence to the Irish government concerning the death of Mr. Ludlow.

Could you advise if all relevant documentation pertinent to this case has been passed by the RUC to the Gárda Síochána.

Can you further advise if enquiries by the Police authorities in Northern Ireland have considered the possible knowledge or involvement of the Security Services in this crime.

Yours sincerely
J B Moffatt 
Secretary General 
Celtic League 
30/10/00

 

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Further statements from the Celtic League

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

LUDLOW MURDER DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT - 07/17/02 

No.362  MINISTER EVASIVE ON LUDLOW QUERY - 5/15/2001

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

Copyright © 2003 the Ludlow family. All rights reserved.
Revised: March 12, 2005 .