U2 backs justice campaign

Relatives and survivors of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings have repeated their calls on the British government to release documents about the 1974 attacks.

A ceremony to mark the 41st anniversary of the bombings was held in Dublin last weekend.

Sunday, May 17th marked 41 years since three car bombs in Dublin, and a fourth in Monaghan, exploded without warning, injuring almost 300 people and killing 34, including an unborn baby. It was the greatest loss of life on a single day during the conflict.

The attack was carried out by the notorious Glenanne Gang which included members of the RUC police and UDR soldiers as well as unionist paramilitaries.

The campaign group called Justice for the Forgotten has called on the British government to release files about the attacks to an independent judicial figure.

This year the message reached an even bigger audience as Irish rockband U2 have included footage of the aftermath of the bombing on the set of their ‘Innocence and Experience’ tour.

During Thursday’s concert, news reports from the time were played to the audience along with audio clips that included the voice of Ian Paisley, before U2 frontman Bono sang a song about that day. It is to be played at every concert during the band’s Innocence and Experience tour, which will visit 20 cities across the globe this year.

Campaigners have welcomed the band’s move, which they say will highlight their need for justice and truth and bring it to a global audience.

Dublin man Pat Fay, whose father Patrick was killed when a bomb went off in Parnell Street, said their story was being brought to a new audience. “This means that the world will finally hear about the huge injustice inflicted upon families who had already suffered devastating lost,” he said.

Bernadette Joly was 23 when she suffered serious injuries to both arms when one of the bombs ripped through Talbot Street. “At last, we feel the world will listen to our plight and demand that London open up the files and set the truth free,” she said.

U2’s move came after Margaret Urwin from Justice for the Forgotten wrote to the band last year on behalf of relatives to thank them for writing ‘Raised by Wolves’.

“We are hoping it will bring a lot of pressure to bear on the British government,” she said. “The families are delighted.”

Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail both called on the British government to release documents about the bombings. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Sinn Fein’s Sean Crowe both said that it was necessary for closure to be delivered to the relatives of those killed in the bombings.

Speaking about the anniversary, Martin said, “Releasing all files pertaining to the Dublin Monaghan Bombings will help the victims and relatives of those who lost their lives to find the justice that has eluded them for decades.”

Sean Crowe, a member of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, said, “the British Government maintains its public position of denial and continues to refuse to release any files or information they have on these brutal bombings.”

“Next week I will again be raising the issue with the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Dail and calling on the government to place the upmost pressure on the new British administration to release their files on Dublin and Monaghan,” he said.

Urgent Appeal