Inquiry sought on anniversary of bombings

RENEWED calls for a full international public inquiry into the Dublin Monaghan bombings were made yesterday on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the atrocities.

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin yesterday attended the unveiling of the new memorial marking the bombings in Monaghan town.

"On this the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings our thoughts are with the survivors and the bereaved of that terrible day, May 17, 1974. The dignity of the survivors and the bereaved and their tenacity in their campaign for justice is an inspiration," Deputy Ó Caoláin said.

"Sadly, 30 years on, the British government has yet to admit any responsibility for the bombings. It continues to withhold information on the role of its forces in the atrocity. It treated the inquiry of Justice Barron with contempt," he said.

"The surviving members of the Fine Gael/Labour coalition Government of 1974 owe an explanation to the Irish people on why they turned a blind eye to the involvement of a foreign government in the worst bombings of the conflict which were intended to kill as many civilians as possible.

"I reiterate my support for the demand of Justice for the Forgotten for a full international public inquiry," he said.

Thirty years ago today, the single worst day of violence during the troubles saw the streets of Dublin and Monaghan rocked by blasts, but the aftermath continues to reverberate around Irish society.

For the relatives and injured, the four UVF bombs, which altered the course of their lives, are never far from their memories.

In the three decades since the atrocity the victims or their relatives have never received closure, while the people who planted the devastating bombs were never brought to justice.

A government and Garda investigation into the bombings was launched but it was closed within two weeks of the blasts.

The Justice For The Forgotten group has spent many years campaigning for an inquest into the bombings on May 17, 1974, which killed 34 including an unborn child.

And now they hope to receive some answers the inquest into the bombings which resumed two weeks ago is just a few days away from reaching its findings.