Republican News · Thursday 4 September 2003

Ó Caoláin welcomes bomb inquest move

Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has welcomed the move by the Attorney General to instruct the Dublin City Coroner to reopen the inquest into the Monaghan Bombing of 17 May 1974, which claimed the lives of seven people.

Dublin City Coroner Brian Farrell already formally reopened in June the inquest into the deaths of the 26 people killed in Dublin and one person who was injured in the Monaghan bombing but who later died in a Dublin hospital.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

"The Dublin/ Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974 continue to represent the single greatest loss of life in the recent conflict. The families of those killed have yet to receive the truth of what happened on that day and what role British forces played in the murder of their loved ones.

"I welcome the fact that the Dublin City Coroner Brian Farrell has been directed to re-open the inquest into the deaths of those killed in Monaghan following the decision in June to resume the inquest into the deaths of those killed in Dublin.

"The inquests alongside the report of Judge Barron may assist the families in their search for truth. However, I believe that an independent inquiry into the bombings will be necessary to finally determine who was behind the attacks and what role British military forces played on that day. The Dublin and British governments must accede to this reasonable and longstanding demand from the survivors and relatives of the victims."