Guarantee the conduct of bombing inquiry
Of primary concern to us were:
1. The most beneficial form of inquiry to secure the truth about the events of May, 1974;
2. Allegations of collusion between members of the British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries.
3. Department of Justice and garda files going missing.
As part of our submission, the INC recommended to the joint Oireachtas committee the establishment of an Anglo-Irish inquiry under the authority of the Anglo-Irish parliamentary body.
However, in issuing its findings on the many submissions it received, the sub-committee has indicated its preference for “a public tribunal of inquiry in Northern Ireland and/or Great Britain as this represents the best opportunity to be successful”.
On the issues of why the garda investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings was wound down in 1974, and the missing documentation from garda files, the sub-committee recommended a commission of investigation to inquire into these matters.
While having reservations about these recommendations and having regard to the fact that the victims and their families have waited almost 30 years for justice, the INC will support these recommendations conditional on certain guarantees being met.
The inquiry must have the genuine commitment of both governments; it must be properly resourced; it must have a totally independent judge with powers to compel; it must have unhindered access to any documentation it deems necessary, and it will engage with victims and their representatives.
Failure to implement any or all of the above would be unacceptable and, in such circumstances, the Irish National Congress would strongly urge the Government to institute proceedings in the European Court of Human Rights against the British government.
We call on the Government to act on the sub-committee’s recommendations and to engage with the representatives of Justice for the Forgotten, and to publicly to dedicate itself to every effort to bring justice and closure to this nightmare called the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
Tom Cooper,
Chairman,
Irish National Congress,
PO Box 2814,
Dublin 7.
