The Celtic
League,
30 October 2000:
CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION
LEAGUE BACK MURDER GANG ENQUIRY CALL
The Celtic League has added its voice to calls for an independent enquiry into the murder of a Co. Louth man in 1976.
Seamus Ludlow a forestry worker was killed in an apparently sectarian
attack by a Loyalist paramilitary gang. There is believed to have been knowledge of or complicity in the killing by the British Security
Services.
In calls to the Irish Premier Bertie Ahern (attached) the League back
calls for a public enquiry. Parallel correspondence to Northern Secretary
(attached) queries if the extent of Security Services collusion was
investigated by the RUC. The killers of Seamus Ludlow are apparently
known to the police north and south of the border. However, as in other cases, their inertia in progressing a prosecution is unexplained.
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General
Celtic League
30/10/00
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries of the
western British Isles and Brittany. It works to promote cooperation
between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political,
cultural and environmental matters and monitors all military activity
within these areas
TEL (UK)01624 627128 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609
Internet site at http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/index.html
Mr. Moffatt's letter to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern:
An Taoiseach
Mr. Bertie Ahern TD
Government Buildings
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
Re. The Murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth, May 1976
Dear Mr. Ahern,
I write with reference to the death of Seamus Ludlow who was murdered
on the night of 1/2 May 1976, inside County Louth, Ireland, by members
of a Loyalist murder gang believed to be acting in concert with members
of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).
I understand that the family of Mr. Ludlow and supporters have for
sometime been campaigning to achieve an open enquiry into the circumstances
of his death. There have also been open and public concerns about the inability of the Police Services, north and south of the border,
to bring the perpetrators of this crime to Justice.
We urge that an open and full enquiry is established into this incident.
It is becoming increasingly obvious, with the passage of time, that
a great number of crimes were perpetrated during this period with the active support of the British Security Services. It is therefore
desirable that full and open enquiries are held into this, and other
atrocities, so that the extent of this involvement can be tested.
Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt
Secretary General
Celtic League
30/10/00
Mr. Moffatt's letter to Minister for Justice John
O'Donoghue:
The Minister for Justice
Mr. John O'Donoghue TD
Department Of Justice
72-76 St. Stephens Green
Dublin 2
Ireland
Re. The Murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth, May 1976
Dear Minister,
I draw your attention to the attached letter to Mr. Ahern which supports
calls by the Ludlow family for a full public enquiry into the circumstances
of the death of Mr. Ludlow and subsequent failings on the part of the police services in Northern Ireland and the Republic to bring
the perpetrators to justice.
I understand that in addition to calls for an open enquiry the Ludlow
family has made repeated requests for the release of a Gárda Síochána
investigation report from the 1998 inquiry, headed by Chief Superintendent
Ted Murphy, and other relevant files from 1976 and 1979.
If the State is not prepared to grant the family a full and open public
enquiry can all relevant documentation pertinent to the Ludlow murder
enquiry be released to them so that they can seek other avenues for
redress of grievance?
Yours sincerely,
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General
Mr. Moffatt's letter to Mr. Peter Mandelson, British Secretary of
State:
The Secretary of State for N. Ireland
Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
N. Ireland
Re. The Murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth, May 1976
Dear Secretary of State,
I refer you to the attached correspondence to the Irish government
concerning the death of Mr. Ludlow.
Could you advise if all relevant documentation pertinent to this case
has been passed by the RUC to the Gárda Síochána.
Can you further advise if enquiries by the Police authorities in Northern
Ireland have considered the possible knowledge or involvement of the
Security Services in this crime.
Yours sincerely
J B Moffatt
Secretary General
Celtic League
30/10/00
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Further
statements from the Celtic League
LOUTH
MURDER - ENQUIRY CALL SUPPORT - 07/29/02
LUDLOW
MURDER DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT - 07/17/02
No.362 MINISTER
EVASIVE ON LUDLOW QUERY - 5/15/2001
No.239 LUDLOW
MURDER - PROPOSALS SOON - 2/1/2001
No.164 MURDER
GANG ENQUIRY CALL - 10/30/2000
Press Reports
The
Irish Independent, 19 July 2002: Fresh
inquest into death of murdered man
The
Irish News, 19 July 2002: Family
welcome inquest 26 years after murder
The
Irish Times, 19 July 2002: New
inquest ordered into Louth man's death
The
Dundalk Democrat, 20 July 2002: Second
inquest to be held into the death of Seamus Ludlow
The
Sunday Life, 28 July 2002: Inquest
to name Ludlow killers
