Report on Ludlow murder ready ‘in autumn’

A REPORT into the 1976 murder of Louthman Séamus Ludlow by loyalists is expected to be completed by Mr Justice Henry Barron by late September.

But two “black holes” are hampering his private investigation, relatives of Mr Ludlow heard during their one and a half hour “progress” meeting with Judge Barron in Dundalk yesterday.

The “black holes” refer to the 28-year gap since the shooting and a possible political cover-up in 1979 after gardaí got key information on the killers’ identities.

No one was ever charged in connection with the Ludlow killing. A forestry worker from Mountpleasant, Dundalk, Séamus Ludlow, aged 47, disappeared on his way home from a pub in the town on the night of May 1/2, 1976.

At the time he was a well-known member of Fine Gael, the major party in the Liam Cosgrave-led government.

Mr Ludlow’s abduction and murder was blamed on the outlawed Red Hand Commando, an umbrella grouping with links to the Ulster Defence Regiment.

His family have consistently condemned attempted smears suggesting he was killed by Republicans as an IRA informer.

Another major difficulty facing Mr Justice Barron is the fact that he has received little or no co-operation from the Northern police force.

Jimmy Sharkey, nephew of the murdered man, said it was the second time since February the family had met with Judge Barron. “He’s a very nice man; he has a good rapport with us. He was asked some awkward questions today, but he wasn’t giving an awful lot away.”

Mr Sharkey said the judge told the family he had to check out “a few things, meet and see certain people” before he compiled his report.

Mr Justice Barron will then submit the report to Justice Minister Michael McDowell, who has said the Government would publish as much of the report as is legally possible.

Mr McDowell was instrumental in ordering a second inquest into Mr Ludlow’s death at the hands of four loyalists close to the border. He was shot three times and his body dumped on a ditch in a laneway a mile from his home. A simple memorial stands at the scene, which is near the ancient monument known as Proleek Dolmen.