Dublin bomb inquest unlikely to start before publication of independent probe
Almost three decades after being first adjourned, the inquest into the deaths of 26 people killed in the three bombs which went off in Dublin city centre on May 17, 1974, was formally reopened yesterday at the Dublin Coroner’s Court.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell will also examine the death of Thomas Croarkin who was injured in the Monaghan bombing on the same date but who died in Dublin on July 23, 1974.
However, the inquest is unlikely to begin in full until after the anticipated publication of the report into the bombings by Mr Justice Henry Barron in September.
The report is examining possible collusion by the British security services in the attack by the UVF.
Lawyers representing relatives of the victims yesterday expressed their willingness to co-operate with the inquest, which is expected to last up to a month.
They also asked Dr Farrell to consider reopening the inquest into the deaths of the six other people who were killed in the Monaghan bombing.
However, barrister Miriam Reilly, who represents two of the families, said the resumption of the inquest should not be contingent on the Barron Report because there was no guarantee it would ever be published.
Ms Reilly claimed there were also 10 matters of concern which she is expected to raise at a later hearing.
Dr Farrell told the inquest he had written to Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne to seek access to all garda files on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
Addressing the hearing, Dr Farrell said his decision to reopen the inquests had not been made lightly. The initial inquests in 1974 had been immediately adjourned at the request of gardaí who had not completed their investigation.
Dr Farrell said he had been fortified by the support he had received from the families, given that he had not wished to intrude in their lives after such a long period of time since the bombing.
The coroner requested anyone who had any information about the bombings to contact his office to provide a formal statement.
Dr Farrell said he had already received a number of phone calls after the reopening of the inquests had been reported.
Addressing the families of the victims, the coroner said he hoped to conclude the hearing expeditiously, given that many families had waited “almost a lifetime” for the inquest to be reopened.
The small court was packed with around 50 relatives of the victims who expressed relief the authorities were again examining one of the largest tragedies of the Troubles.
“It’s a day of mixed emotions. I never thought it would happen,” said Michelle Byrne whose mother, Anne, (35) was killed instantly when the bomb exploded in Talbot Street.
The inquest was adjourned for mention until September 18.
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