Evidence of collusion demands public inquiry

The Justice for the Forgotten group writes that a public tribunal into the 1974 bombings in Dublin and Monaghan is essential following the evidence of collusion by British forces and Garda police in the attacks presneted at parliamentary hearings in Dublin.

It is twelve weeks since the Barron Report was published. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights (Sub-Committee on the Barron report) has held public hearings over the past six weeks. In light of the presentations made, Justice for the Forgotten is confident that the Committee will unanimously recommend a public Tribunal of Inquiry.

The Committee hearings have intensified concerns as to what occurred in Dublin & Monaghan on 17 May 1974. Issues highlighted by the Barron Report have not been addressed, clarification has not been forthcoming and no explanation or elaboration has come from the Garda Commissioner. The end result is a scandal that has intensified and given rise to alarming concerns.

We now have reason to believe that a senior element within An Garda Síochana colluded in a cover up of the bombings:

Within three hours of the bombings a suspect was detained by two Gardai at Dublin Deep Sea Port about to embark on a B+I ferry with a British registered van. The suspect was found to be in possession of a British Army uniform and weapons. We believe that instructions were received from superior officers to allow the suspect vehicle and driver to leave the State.
A deliberate decision was taken not to arrest and interrogate a second suspect who openly resided and carried on business in the State. We believe this suspect was a Garda agent.
The Monaghan investigation was closed within 5 weeks in circumstances where senior Gardai in Dublin took no action on the considerable evidence and intelligence gathered by local Gardaí.
In order to cover up their activities and inactiviites senior Gardai deliberately removed and concealed files on loyalist paramilitary organisations.

We now have more reason to believe that the British security forces participated and colluded in the bombings. The Committee has heard compelling evidence of collusion:

The Minister for Justice, Mr. Michael McDowell T.D. has expressed his personal belief that there was collusion in the bombings.
Mr. Seán Donlan, a former diplomat and Irish Ambassador to the US, has given testimony of his own experience in the 1970s on the ground in Northern Ireland and his belief is that there was collusion in the 1972 and 1974 bombings.
The Pat Finucane Centre from Derry has provided the results of four years of investigation into deaths in Mid-Ulster in the mid-seventies. These results forensically connect the Dublin & Monaghan Bombers with a series of ongoing murders and bombings involving the RUC and the UDR and indicate a cover-up of collusion involving the most senior judge in Northern Ireland in 1980.
Lt. Col. Nigel Wylde, a former British Army Ordnance Officer has presented expert evidence which establishes that the Dublin bombs were beyond the competence of the UVF acting alone.
Col. Patrick Trears, an Irish Army Ordnance Officer has supported Lt. Col. Wylde's opinion and has also told the committee that he personally received intelligence that a British Army Officer armed the Monaghan bomb.
Colin Wallace, a former Senior British Army Information Officer has furnished the Oireachtas Committee with an internal security memorandum dated 28 June 1974 where the names of leading suspects for the Dublin & Monaghan Bombings appear on a list of loyalist paramilitaries. The names of the suspects have lines drawn through them so as to indicate that they are not to be targeted for intelligence operations.

In the light of these issues we believe that Sub-Commitee on the Barron report, as elected representatives from Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wexford, and representing all the Irish people, will not hesitate to recommend the establishment of a public Tribunal of Inquiry into the Dublin & Monaghan Bombings.

Urgent Appeal