The Irish Independent reports a new inquest into Dublin and Monaghan Bombings deaths.

Victims and families a step nearer the truth

ALMOST three decades have passed since three car bombs ripped through Dublin during rush hour killing 26 people. Within hours a fourth bomb killed seven people in Monaghan. In all 200 people were wounded.

The May 1974 bombings were the worst single atrocity of the Troubles.

The relatives of those killed and injured have spent 29 years seeking the truth about who was responsible for the deaths of their family members.

So many other atrocities followed those bombings but the pain and the sad memories never dimmed for those relatives, and equally for the relatives of the two people who died in the Dundalk bombing in 1975. Groups like Justice for the Forgotten, which represents most of the bereaved, have never given up hope that the true facts behind the bombings would some day emerge. And now at last, they can see some light beginning to emerge at the end of a very long tunnel.

The news yesterday that the Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell had agreed to reopen the inquests into the deaths was a very significant development for these families who have felt largely abandoned for so many years.

Solicitor for the families Greg O'Neill described it as "hugely symbolic" because it would mark an "official acknowledgment of the men, women and children who were slaughtered on that day." Back in 1974 the inquests were opened but then adjourned at the request of the Garda Commissioner. After waiting so long the families have also recently learnt that the inquiry, headed by Mr Justice Henry Barron, and ordered by the Government into the bombings, will be completed in September.

The inquests of the 26 people killed in Dublin, and one victim of the Monaghan bombing who died in Dublin, will take place once the Barron Report has been published. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has taken a particular interest in sorting something out for these families. He was responsible for the inquiry being established and promised at the time that there would be access to all relevant files and papers of Government departments and the Garda Siochana.

The investigation was to include an examination of the nature and adequacy of Garda investigations; the adequacy of co-operation from the Northern Ireland authorities; the handling of scientific analyses of forensic evidence; the reasons why no prosecutions took place; and whether, and if so by whom and to what extent, the investigations were impeded.

However the attitude of the British Government has been in marked contrast. There have been regular claims that members of British or RUC intelligence were involved in the bombings.

The inquiry has been repeatedly frustrated by a lack of co-operation from the British authorities significantly delaying its progress. It emerged that the British Ministry of Defence ordered staff employed by it in 1974 not to co-operate with the inquiry. But after the Taoiseach made representations to British Premier Tony Blair a number of months ago the situation does seem to have improved. Mr Ahern was told by Northern Ireland Secretary of State Paul Murphy that new files had been found by the British government dealing with the bombings. Mr Ahern said Mr Murphy had given him an assurance that the British had done "an enormous trawl" of their files.

Once the inquiry is complete it will first be presented to the Government, to be followed by an examination of the report in public session by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality Defence and Women's Rights. The Committee will be asked to advise on what the report has achieved in relation to its objective to find out the truth about the bombings. If the report failed in its objective they must advise on whether a public inquiry should be established.

Alison O'Connor
Political Correspondent

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