McDowell apologises to Ludlow family

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has apologised to the family of Co Louth man Seamus Ludlow for their treatment by the State.

Forty-seven-year-old Mr Ludlow was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in May 1976 while walking home from a pub in Dundalk.

A report by Justice Henry Barron severely criticised the garda investigation of the case, particularly the failure to follow up on information about the main suspects that was handed over by the RUC.

Mr McDowell apologised for this today while addressing the Oireachtas committee examining the Barron Report.

He said it was "a matter of profound regret" that the Gardaí failed to conduct a proper investigation.