Blair vows to help bombings probe

British Prime Minister Tony Blair today promised to help ‘‘in any way’’ with the investigation into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

He made the promise after bereaved relatives and survivors demanded that Britain hand over security documents to a Dublin inquiry into the atrocity, which killed 33 people.

At Dublin Castle, after a meeting of the British-Irish Council, Mr Blair said he ‘‘fully understood’’ the anguish of those who lost loved ones and needed answers about the bombings.

But the relatives - many of whom suspect Britain colluded with the Loyalist paramilitaries who planted the bombs - were unimpressed with his comments.

They said talks which had been promised between inquiry judge Mr Justice Henry Barron and Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid were welcome, but action was needed instead of words.

They also criticised the fact that although the meeting was announced several weeks ago a date had still not been set.

A group of around 50 relatives protested at the gates of the castle today, waving banners and placards as Mr Blair’s car swept into the grounds. Three car bombs exploded in Dublin on May 17, 1974, killing 26 people, just minutes before a fourth blast in Monaghan killed seven more.

Mr Blair said: ‘‘The Secretary of State will meet with Mr Justice Barron and the sooner that can take place the better.

‘‘We totally understand the concerns of the relatives of those people who died in those terrible acts of terrorism.’’

He added: ‘‘We want to co-operate in any way we can.’’

But Greg O’Neill, the solicitor representing the families, said: ‘‘He has been saying that since September 2000.’’

‘‘Whilst we welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has spoken on this it is actions we are looking for rather than words.

‘‘The way we see it the judge needs to progress matters, for this he needs full disclosure of these documents.’’

Despite a formal request by the inquiry nine months ago the British authorities have still not handed over any papers.

Britain said it was a mammoth task and they would hand over all the papers at once.

Mr O’Neill added: ‘‘Mr Blair has a case to answer in terms of the way his government and preceding governments have harboured and given a safe haven to those who carried out these murders.’’