Dublin/Monaghan bombs report passes sixth deadline

The families of victims killed in the Dublin Monaghan bombings have criticised delays in a Government-commissioned investigation as it passes its sixth deadline.

Justice for the Forgotten said it is concerned and disappointed that the Commission of Investigation into the 1974 tragedy is to ask for its seventh extension.

The report, headed by barrister Patrick MacEntee SC, was due to be completed tomorrow and handed over to the Oireachtas for approval.

However, a request for an extension will now go before the Cabinet either this Tuesday or next Tuesday.

“Obviously, at this stage, this is a disappointment,” said Margaret Urwin, of Justice for the Forgotten.

“While we were perfectly happy to accept that Mr MacEntee needed extensions in order to complete the investigation, it stated in the last interim report that he had finished the investigation and was in the process of checking evidence with persons who added to the report.

“Now we are very concerned.

“We knew the report was never going to be published next week, but it was meant to be going to government.

“Even at that stage it wouldn’t be made public until February, but with the Dail and Seanad about to rise for Christmas we don’t know when it will be published.

“It will also have to be cleared by the Attorney General to ensure it does not interfere with human rights of those who gave evidence or that there are any legal issues.”

More than 300 people were injured and 33 killed when four car bombs exploded in Dublin and Monaghan on May 17, 1974. No organisation claimed responsibility but loyalist paramilitaries were widely blamed.

The campaign group was formed in January 1996 with the aim of getting truth and justice for the victims.

The commission, which is being held in private, was established more than 18 months ago and has already sought six extensions to get more material from security sources about the bombings.

The Government agreed to its last extension to December 11 in October.

“This is the seventh time an extension has been sought since it started on May 13 last year,” Ms Urwin continued.

“It was due to last six months, but now it is running more and more behind schedule.

“There are no concessions given to us over this time.

“We get no information to pass on to the families and even on the day when the report is finally published we won’t have any concessions, we might just get it a couple of hours before it is made public.”

The terms of reference of the commission were to report on why the garda investigation was wound down in 1974, why gardai did not follow up on information that a white van with an English registration was parked on Portland Row and was later seen parked in Dublin’s ferry port, and the subsequent contact with a British army officer on a ferry boat leaving Dublin.