MINISTER
URGED TO END LUDLOW INQUEST OBSTRUCTION
The Celtic League have criticised the obstructions placed in the path of the Co.
Louth Coroner who is pursuing a reopened inquest into the death of Seamus
Ludlow, a forestry worker, who was murdered by a loyalist gang in May 1976.
The Celtic League had previously supported calls by the Ludlow family for a
reopened inquest and an independent enquiry into his murder because of
widespread suspicions that the loyalist murder gang involved were actively
colluding with the British military intelligence services believed to be
carrying out acts of violence south of the border at that time.
The League have urged the Justice Minister to speak out and remove any
impediment which blocks access by the Coroner to documentation held by the Irish
Police and ensure that they cooperate fully with the inquest process.
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General
30/10/04
"Minister Michael McDowell, T.D.,
Minister for Justice Equality & Law Reform
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
94 St. Stephens Green
Dublin 2
Dear Minister,
We corresponded
with the Irish government sometime ago supporting efforts by the family of
Seamus Ludlow to bring closure to the circumstances surrounding his murder in
1977.
I am sorry to say that since that time, despite assurance from the Government,
little progress has made been in resolving the issue and we understand the
most recent delay is the failure of the Garda to cooperate fully and make
available relevant documentation to the Coroner for Louth County who was
instructed two years ago by the Attorney General to re-open the inquest.
There can have been few issues more distressing over the past thirty years in
the North of Ireland than the failure to hold inquests or when such inquests
were held attempts by the State, by surreptitious, means to frustrate their
progress.
This trauma and frustration now seems to be visited, south of the border,
on the Ludlow family by the actions of an Agency of your government.
We hope that the necessary steps will be put in motion to ensure that the Co.
Louth Coroner is facilitated by the State and not frustrated in his efforts to
conclude this long overdue inquest.
Yours sincerely
J B Moffatt
30/10/04"
Copyright
© 2004
the Ludlow family. All rights reserved.
Revised:
November 15, 2004
.
