Bombing families berate State for commission move

FAMILIES of those killed in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings last night criticised a Government decision to establish a Commission of Investigation into the atrocity, saying the move would shut them out of proceedings.

The commission - to be headed by senior counsel Patrick MacEntee - will look into matters of public interest arising from the findings of the Barron report, published earlier this year.

Following its publication, the Oireachtas subcommittee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights held a series of public hearings and recommended a Commission of Investigation be established to probe the bombings, in which 33 people died.

The committee sought further investigation into the reasons the original garda investigation into the atrocity was wound down so early and the whereabouts of all garda files on the bombings.

However, Justice for the Forgotten last night expressed disappointment at the move, saying relatives felt the commission would effectively bar them from proceedings.

Unlike the Tribunal of Inquiry relatives sought, the Commission of Investigation will be largely held in private to maximise speed and minimise legal bills.

“The families feel deeply suspicious. They feel they have been let down by the State. There can be no sense of ownership because the families are not being engaged. We feel we are being shut out of the process,” said group legal representative Greg O’Neill.

The terms of reference of the new commission took some by surprise last night as they were far more extensive than predicted.

In addition to investigating why the garda operation into the bombings was closed in 1974, the commission will also probe why gardaí failed to follow up several important leads.

The commission is also tasked to probe unaccounted-for garda files and documentation and the reasons the files went missing.