Britain facing increased bombings inquiry pressure

BRITAIN was last night facing increased pressure to hold a public inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1972 and 1973.

An Irish parliamentary committee recommended that the Irish Government bring a case before the European Court of Human Rights to force the British Government to hold a public inquiry into the bombings.

Nobody has ever been brought to justice for the atrocities which killed nine people and injured 185.

The seven-member sub-committee published a report in Dublin calling for the Irish and British parliaments to pass resolutions endorsing legal proceedings in the Strasbourg court.

A hard-hitting 80-page document lambasted authorities in Britain and Northern Ireland for their lack of cooperation over the investigation of the bombings.

Sub-committee chairman Sean Ardagh said: "They have a moral responsibility as well as a responsibility to justice to cooperate with us. We will continue in every way to pursue them and continue to attack their position."

Member Finian McGrath said: "It's not good enough to have a sovereign government refusing to co-operate. We are feeling a lot of anger and dismay. But we will stand by the victims and their families until we achieve truth and justice."

The Justice for the Forgotten group, which represents victims' families, welcomed the recommendation to take the British Government to court.

Chairperson Bernie McNally said: "This is something positive for us. We hope that it can put pressure on those who are withholding information."

Earlier this month, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy ruled out a fresh investigation but agreed to appoint a liaison officer to work with the Justice for the Forgotten group.