Visitors are welcome to leave messages of support on our New Guest Book .    Chronology - Part 4.    9 August 2000 - The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights sent the following e-mail message to Jim J. Kane, Irish Organizations United,  of Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, a keen supporter of the Ludlow family's demands for a public inquiry into the murder of Seamus Ludlow: Dear Sir, We acknowledge the receipt of your message. Unfortunately, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights cannot be of assistance to you in this case. The Commission on Human Rights does not consider individual complaint and the existing machinery which could take it up would be barred to do so rationae temporis. The murder was committed 24 years ago and the procedure for dealing with individual alleged violations of human rights was not yet into existence. Regards Webadmin I Top I  31 August 2000 - The following abusive message was left on one of the Seamus Ludlow campaign's guestbooks, providing further evidence of contempt for truth and justice residing still in certain quarters. The writer, who gave his name as Seamus Doherty, was so incensed  by the Ludlow campaign's statement of the facts that he just had to unburden himself and vent his vitriolic hatred for all who seek truth and justice for the victims of state killings. Mr. Doherty alleges that the Ludlow family are smearing people by citing "the alleged killers as 'UDR/Red Hand Commandos'", when in fact this claim originates not with the Ludlow family, but with the Gardai, the RUC and, not forgetting, the alleged "witness", Mr. Paul Hosking. Mr. Doherty clearly has no problems with the shameful smearing of Seamus Ludlow, the innocent victim of the UDR/Loyalist death squad. Shame on him! We shall take no advice from him! The Ludlow family have no hesitation in telling  Mr. Doherty, and all who think like him, that they and they alone are running their campaign for truth and justice. The Ludlow family makes no apology to Mr. Doherty, and others of his ilk, who condemn their struggle for truth and justice. Mr. Doherty finally gets to the point of his disgraceful outburst against the Ludlow family when he ends with a question that has no relevance to this campaign. Mr. Doherty would be better advised to take his views to the appropriate quarter. The Ludlow family will not permit him or his like to use the campaign's websites to peddle their prejudices against truth and the rights of people like the Ludlow family to speak out against state killing and injustice.  However, his message appears here so that it can be seen for what it is, an attack on all who demand justice. The Ludlow family is delighted that, despite a despicable attack like this, their campaign has attracted considerable support from a wide range of people, all united in their support for truth and justice: A chara One of the problems with many who are involved with organisations like the Pat Finucane Centre, is that they smear people by citing the alleged killers as 'UDR/Red Hand Commandos'. They are many like Seamus Ludlow, who died and no one has been brought to book.  Why is that only people with a link to Sinn Fein  and the IRA are calling for Inquiries yet the greatest perpetrators of such crimes were these same organisations. An Inquiry is underway in Derry, called for, amongst others by Martin McGuinness, yet he will not give evidence to it.  As the OC of the Derry Brigade at the time, one would imagine that he would have material evidence that would be very useful to Saville. don't you think? Seamus I Top I 3 October 2000 - In a shock development it is announced that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has accepted "with regret" the resignation of former Chief Justice Liam Hamilton who had been heading a private inquiry into the May 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Mr. Hamilton was the sole member of the private  "Independent Commission of Inquiry" which has not been accepted by the Ludlow family as a proper mechanism for investigating the murder of Seamus Ludlow and the subsequent cover-up and smear campaign. This rejection was not in itself a criticism of Mr. Hamilton. The Ludlow family merely stood by their demand for a public inquiry. The Irish News reported that Mr. Hamilton took the decision to resign from his private investigation for (at that time, unspecified) health reasons and that he was about to face  immediate surgery and post-operative treatment.  Mr. Justice Hamilton's sudden and entirely unexpected resignation raised many questions as to the state of his private inquiry which had yet to be concluded. It remained unclear whether or not his resignation would result in a further stalling of any inquiry into both the Dundalk bombing of December 1975 and the murder of Seamus Ludlow in May 1976. Sadly, Mr. Justice Hamilton's illness was very serious indeed, for he passed away within a few months. His death was reported in the national press on 1 December 2000. I Top I 4 October 2000 - The Irish News reports that former Irish Supreme Court judge Henry Barron has been appointed to take over the inquiry into the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk bombings atrocities. 5 October 2000 - In an oral answer to questions (nos. 14 and 140) at Leinster House, Dublin, regarding the implementation of the Irish Victims' Commission's Report "A Place and a Name", tabled by Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Cavan-Monaghan, Mr. John O'Donoghue, TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, said: In May 1998 I appointed, with Government approval, the former Tainiste Mr. John Wilson to conduct a review of services and arrangements in place in this jurisdiction to meet the needs of those who had suffered as a result of violent action associated with the conflict in Northern Ireland over the past thirty years. In his report "A Place and a Name", Mr. Wilson made wide-ranging recommendations on measures to be taken to acknowledge and address the suffering of those in question. My Department has been involved in detailed discussions with other relevant Departments and agencies in relation to the implementation of the recommendation. In some areas work has already commenced on implementation. For example, as the House will be aware, former Chief Justice Liam Hamilton was appointed to conduct inquiries into the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of 1974 and the Dundalk bombing of 1975. As the House will also be aware the Taoiseach announced yesterday tat Mr. Justice Baron has agreed to take over from Mr. Hamilton, who was obliged to retire from the inquiries for health reasons. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. hamilton for his work on the inquiries. As regards the balance of Mr. Wilson's recommendations, I am now finalising a detailed plan, based on the consultations which have taken place, and I intend to submit this to Government very shortly for approval. I Top I 14 October 2000 - Ludlow family member Jimmy Sharkey attended a meeting, organized by the Pat Finucane Centre (PFC), at Crossmaglen, County Armagh, with families gathered from across Ireland, all linked by the loss of loved ones to more than 30 loyalist attacks in the 1970s - with strong suspicions of British security - RUC or Army - involvement.  The Ludlow family is not alone in accusing  RUC and the British Army elements of collusion with loyalist death squads on both sides of the border. Nor are the Ludlow family alone in demanding truth and justice for their loved ones after so many years of lies and state indifference. Among those present were relatives of victims of up to 10 of these attacks, including those bereaved by bombings at Silverbridge, Dublin, Monaghan, Dundalk, Dungannon, and a series of shootings. At least 10 other families were supportive but were unable to attend on the day. At the meeting, attended by some forty relatives, the Derry based Pat Finucane Centre presented dramatic new evidence of collusion in at least 80 murders. This followed the Centre's research into allegations of RUC and British Army involvement in the murderous gun and bomb attack on Donnelly's Bar, at Silverbridge, County Armagh, on 19 December 1975, which left three local people dead. Paul O'Connor, of the Pat Finucane Centre, told relatives assembled at Crossmaglen that a senior RUC officer who was stationed in the south Armagh area at the time of these attacks had come forward and had met with the relatives of the Silverbridge victims' families on several occasions. Paul O'Connor claimed that the as yet un-named RUC officer had confirmed the family's suspicions by saying that he believed security force members were directly involved in the attack on Donnelly's Bar, thus corroborating claims recently made by the former RUC Special Branch man John Weir, who served a prison sentence for his activities with loyalist murder gangs.  According to the Irish News, in a major two page article on Monday 16 October: "It was alleged he also suggested that 'permutations of the same gang' were suspected of involvement in a series of other killings in the area during the same period. The officer has yet to confirm the allegations in public. "The PFC followed up the claims with a "mapping exercise" - involving court appearances, news reports, and security sources - to identify possible links with other attacks. . . "In all, it claims at least 32 attacks, involving 87 killings (including two pregnant women) may be linked. There have been no convictions in 22 of the cases." The Ludlow family applauds the Pat Finucane Centre and the good people who had assembled to remember their dead and stand up for the justice that they have been long denied.  Please visit the Pat Finucane Centre's excellent website for further information, including the complete text of the above quoted  Irish News coverage of the relatives' meeting at Crossmaglen and an extensive article on collusion in the south Armagh / mid Ulster area in the mid-1970's. I Top I 17 October 2000 - Jimmy Sharkey, representing the family of the late Seamus Ludlow, attended the successful Dublin launch of Don Mullan's new and eagerly awaited book The Dublin and Monaghan Bombings, published by Wolfhound Press, with royalties going to the Justice for the Forgotten campaign of the relatives and victims of the bombings of 17 May 1974.  This new book is highly recommended. It highlights British security  links to the coordinated loyalist bombings which claimed 33 lives and raises searching questions surrounding the Gardai's handling of the  investigation into the "forgotten" killings and the appalling treatment of the survivors and their families down the years since then. The Ludlow family wishes their good friend and supporter Don Mullan and their fellow campaigners for truth in the Justice for the Forgotten campaign great success with this momentous publication.  Attending the book launch, Cavan/Monaghan TD, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, in a statement, called for a cross-jurisdictional inquiry into the bombings. He also demanded inquiries into other attacks in the 26 Counties between 1972 and 1976, where there is evidence of involvement of British armed forces. He said: The survivors and the bereaved of Dublin and Monaghan must have a full public inquiry with power to call witnesses from both sides of the border. They deserve nothing less. Don Mullan's book raises very serious questions for successive Dublin governments and for the gardai. The full extent of their knowledge has yet to be revealed. The victims of Dublin and Monaghan, like the victims of other tragedies perpetrated or sponsored by British state forces have been consistently denied the truth. There is also need to be public inquiries into other fatal incidents in the period 1972 to 1976. These include: the Dublin bombing of December 1972 (2 killed); the Dublin bombing of January 1973 (1 killed); the killing of John Francis Green, Castleblayney, January 1975; the Dundalk bombing of December 1975 (2 killed); the Castleblayney bombing of March 1976 (1 killed); the killing of Seamus Ludlow, Louth 1976. In all of these cases there needs to be an investigation into the role of British forces, into the true nature of contacts between the gardai and British intelligence in that period and into the role of successive Dublin governments. I Top I 30 October 2000 - The Ludlow family is delighted to receive support from Mr. Bernard Moffatt, the distinguished Secretary General of the Celtic League organization. Mr. Moffatt has written in support of the Ludlow family's demands for a public inquiry to Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern; Irish Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue; and to British Secretary of State in Belfast Peter Mandelson. The following are the Celtic League's press release and the full text of his letters to the above. The Celtic League's press release: From: Mr B Moffatt  Date: Mon Oct 30, 2000 7:08am Subject: MURDER GANG ENQUIRY CALL 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 See also the Celtic League's message of 3 March 2000 regarding temporary change of web address. See also the Northern Ireland Office's unsatisfactory reply to the above. See also a further Celtic League press release of 31 January 2001. I Top I 7 November 2000 - In a letter to Mr. Robin Gourlay, Eason's Wholesale Books, Belfast, a member of the Ludlow family wrote: "I am writing to enquire why Easons do not stock copies of the recently published Unfinished Business State Killings and the Quest for Peace, by Bill Rolston (Beyond the Pale, Belfast). If I am badly misinformed, could you please tell me when you expect to stock this important book. "As a relative of the late Seamus Ludlow who was murdered near Dundalk in May 1976, and one who is quoted in this publication, I am saddened to hear that Easons has decided not to stock or distribute this book. The Ludlow family sincerely believes that the public have a right to hear the full truth about Seamus Ludlow's appalling murder and our family's demands for a public inquiry. Accordingly, Mr. Gourlay, I appeal to you to reconsider this decision." See also Easons' reply to the above dated 22 January 20001. I Top I 18 November 2000 - In an Irish News article by journalist Sharon O'Neill, leading academic Bill Rolston hit out at major Irish book seller and distributor Easons for refusing too stock his latest book Unfinished business: State Killings and the Quest for Truth.  The book features interviews with families of several victims of state killing in Ireland - with members of the Ludlow family featured in chapter 3, where they speak out about the murder of their relative Seamus Ludlow and their campaign for truth. The book has been banned from the outlet's shelves since its release some four months before.       The Irish News reported: And, according to the author, a recent plea to overturn the decision has fallen on deaf ears. Last night Professor Rolston demanded to know why Ireland’s biggest distributor and retailer banned the publication, which is on sale in England, Germany, the United States and other prominent bookstores here. The book focuses on 23 cases of state involvement in killings associated with the conflict here and includes harrowing stories from relatives of the Bloody Sunday dead and the sister of Portadown murder victim Robert Hamill. Branding the ban “scandalous”, Professor Rolston said: “I’ve been in contact with Easons once since to ask them to reconsider, but as yet we have heard nothing, which is a telling sign. “They originally expressed concern that there was a possibility of libel over the book, but it was unspecific. If I was told exactly what it was I would be more than happy to go back to relatives and try to address the issue. “But what I want to know is why don’t they have these fears with other controversial books on Northern Ireland?” He added: “It appears that anything that looks like it’s anti-state gets removed,” he said. “Friends and colleagues I’ve talked to said its political, but only Eason’s can say what’s true or not.” Eason book director Tom Owens said last night: “For commercial reasons we decided not to stock the book.” See also the Ludlow family's letter to Easons dated 7 November 2000 and Mr. Owens' reply dated 22 January 2001. I Top I 29 November 2000 - The Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. John O'Donoghue TD responded in a written answer to a question (No. 130) about the Seamus Ludlow case that was tabled by Mr. Seamus Kirk TD: "To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the timescale for completion of the inquiry into a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter." Mr. O'Donoghue's reply to the above: It has been indicated to solicitors acting on behalf of the person concerned that the Government is prepared to have an inquiry into the person's death along the lines of the inquiry which was established, initially under Mr. Justice Hamilton, into the Dublin/Monaghan bombings. To date that proposal has not found favour with the representatives of the relatives. In the circumstances, I am considering how best to progress the matter and I hope to put proposals to this end before Government as soon as possible. I Top I 1 December 2000 - The national press reports the passing on 29 November of former Irish Chief Justice Liam Hamilton, his death caused by cancer. Only a few months previously,  Mr. Hamilton had resigned unexpectedly, due to then unspecified health reasons, from his private inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. He was also expected to soon commence an inquiry into the December 1975  Dundalk bombing - and there were strong indications that the Dublin government also wanted Mr. Hamilton to investigate the May 1976 murder of Seamus Ludlow. The Ludlow family had consistently rejected this proposal for a private inquiry in favour of a public inquiry, but this rejection was in itself no adverse criticism of Mr. Hamilton. 9 December 2000 - The following message was received from Mr. Bernard Moffatt, Secretary General of the Celtic League. He has received a less than enlightening response from the British  Northern Ireland Office (NIO) - one that adds nothing new to that which has already been received by the Ludlow family.  The Ludlow family thanks Mr. Moffatt and the Celtic Leauge for their efforts and their support for their demands. This was an apparent reply to Mr. Moffatt's letter and press release of 30 October 2000. See also a further press release of 31 January 2001. Says Mr. Moffatt: The N. Ireland Office has responded following our protest to the British Prime Minister about the circumstances surrounding the death of Seamus Ludlow they say: "I can inform you that information relating to the murder of Mr., Ludlow was passed to An Garda Siochana in 1979. I am advised also there is no evidence to suggest a cover-up to protect the killers took place or continues to take place. If there is any further information pertaining to the murder of Mr. Ludlow we would be keen to pursue it" The letter is sent by the Security Policy and Operations Division NIO Bernard Moffatt Sec. Gen. Celtic League 22 January 2001 - In a reply to a letter (dated 7 November 2000) from a member of the Ludlow family, Tom Owens, Book Director, Eason & Son Ltd, referring to the Ludlow family's concern over Eason's refusal to stock or distribute the book Unfinished Business State Killings and the Quest for Peace, wrote:  "We have been bookselling for over 100 years and our reasons for not stocking titles would be either commercial or legal." Significantly, in this brief statement Mr. Owens has not given any clear reason or justification for his company's refusal to stock Bill Rolston's recently published book. This refusal denied the Ludlow family, and many other relatives of victims of British state killers the opportunity to bring their personal accounts of tragedy to the general public notice. (See also Ludlow family letter to Easons of 7 November 2000) I Top I  31 January 2001 - The following press release was issued by the Celtic League. CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION LUDLOW MURDER - PROPOSALS SOON The Department of Justice, in Dublin, has said that the Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue, TD "hopes to put proposals to...the Irish Government as soon as possible" to end the impasse over an enquiry into the murder of Séamus Ludlow. The Celtic League had added its voice to calls for an independent enquiry into the murder of the Co. Louth forestry worker in 1976. Mr. Ludlow was killed in an apparently sectarian attack by a Loyalist paramilitary gang. Controversy has surrounded to brutal killing for many years and there is believed to have been knowledge of or complicity in the killing by the British Security Services. Following requests from the Ludlow family, the Celtic League wrote to the Irish Premier, Bertie Ahern, backing calls for a public enquiry in line with their wishes. Parallel correspondence to the Northern Secretary querying the extent of British Security Services collusion prompted an ambivalent response via the RUC.  It is hoped that the Irish government will move soon to resolve the inertia around the case. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League  31/01/01 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. It targets human rights abuse and monitors all military activity within these areas. TEL (UK)01624 627128 MOBILE (UK)04624 491609 Internet site at http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/index.html b.moffatt@advsys.co.im See also the Celtic League's message of 3 March 2000 regarding temporary change of web address. See also Mr. Moffatt's letter to the Ludlow family dated 9 December 2000, and his previous press release and letter of 30 October 2000. I Top I 15 - February 2001 - The following two messages were received by the Ludlow family. The sources are no friends of the Ludlow family. They peddle lies, abuse and sectarian spitefulness that sadly reveal the depth of hatred and the fear of truth that remains rampant within loyalism in the Six Counties. Seamus Ludlow was an innocent Catholic victim of loyalism, not an executed republican, and his death should not be traded off in arguments about RUC casualties. These correspondents have nothing useful to say about Seamus Ludlow. Instead, their vitriol says more about themselves. The first message was received from a  James Armour, who dwells in a state of whataboutery, and for whom the splendid Red Hand Commando and UDR killers of Seamus Ludlow are not the "real enemies of Ulster". The Ludlow family takes no advice from Mr. Armour and this site makes no apology for exposing the role of the RUC in the continuing cover-up of the murder of Seamus Ludlow::  "What about the 302 R.U.C men and women killed by the real enemies of Ulster the I.R.A. who will weep for them and their widows and children, it will not be the pro Irish Americans who stand with the I.R.A . or your web site" Our second message was submitted to our guestbook by an anonymous bigot who identifies himself only as "T", and giving a web address for a loyalist hate site, supposedly about "Ulster Culture". These filthy lies reveal the unrepentant face of a supporter of those who cruelly murdered Seamus Ludlow: Justice came or Ludlow in 1976.  As a member of an IRA team who was crossing the border and systematically selecting Protestants and border farmers, who would not bow to the IRA will, for torture and murder whoever was responsible for his execution can rightly say - Justice caught up with him.  Irish imperialism and war crimes of severe brutality against the civilian population in the border areas of Ulster carried out from safe havens such as Louth, were no doubt a safer place, how many lives were saved by Ludlow's execution. Email: HomePage: UC, http://members.tripod.co.uk/uindex IP: 194.117.133.22 Significantly, this cowardly apologist for loyalist killers does not question the basic truth of the Ludlow family's case, that Seamus Ludlow was murdered by his fellow loyalists. Indeed, the anonymous "T" appears to gloat about loyalist involvement in this foul sectarian murder. I Top I 3 March 2001 - The following was received from Mr. Bernard Moffatt, Secretary General, Celtic League: Note: due to problems with the Isle of Man Data Registration authority the main Celtic league site at: (http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/index.html) is currently down. This may be the case for sometime and indeed we may have to relocate outside the Island. In the meantime you may wish to adjust any links on your site. You can still get general League info at: http://homepages.enterprise.net/mlockerby/clint/clint.html and news at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league b.moffatt@advsys.co.im See also Mr. Moffatt's letter to the Ludlow family dated 9 December 2000, and his previous press release and letter of 30 October 2000. Ludlow family note, March 2001:  The original address has been restored to use. I Top I 30 March 2001 - The weekly local Dundalk Argus newspaper reported that the Ludlow family's 25th anniversary commemoration for Seamus Ludlow would take place on Sunday, 29th April at the monument that was erected in his memory at the laneway off the Bog Road - near his home at Thistlecross - where his body was dumped after he was murdered by Loyalists in 1976. I Top I 13 April 2001 - In a letter to the Ludlow family's solicitor, Nuala O'Loan, the North's new Police Ombudsman, replying to the solicitor's letter of 9 April, said that "on initial examination" the Seamus Ludlow murder "is outside my remit because of the length of time that has elapsed since the murder. However, I am making preliminary enquiries about when the police investigation terminated". I Top I 15 April 2001 - ED Moloney, writing in the Dublin Sunday Tribune newspaper, reported on the most recent development in the Ludlow family's campaign for truth and justice. The full report can be accessed on the Newshound website. The following extracts are of particular interest: The family of Seamus Ludlow, the Co Louth man shot dead in controversial and possibly sinister circumstances by Loyalists twenty-five years ago, have asked the North's Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan to investigate the RUC's handling of the investigation into his death. . . The approach to the North's Police Ombudsman comes in the wake of remarks by the RUC Chief Constable's office that could mean that an agent was involved in the affair. In a July 2000 letter to an American supporter of the family the Chief Constable's office wrote: "I can inform you it is not force policy to comment on matters pertaining to "Agents". Police reports to the DPP are confidential documents as are forensic/ballistic reports." The letter to Nuala O'Loan from the Ludlow family solicitor states: "Our clients are anxious that you would use your powers to investigate the role of the RUC in relation to the investigation of this murder. Our client's primary concern is that the guilty parties were identified at an early date but that no effective steps were taken to secure a prosecution. "Of primary concern therefore to our clients is to establish what was known to the police authorities and when it was known. On a second level they would be anxious to know what information was communicated by the RUC to their colleagues in An Garda Siochana and when that was communicated." See also a follow-up in The Irish News Online Edition, 17 April 2001. I Top I 21 April 2001 - A new web page giving further details of the Ludlow family's 25th anniversary commemoration for Seamus Ludlow was placed online for the first time today by Jeannie and Jim, valued supporters from the United States, and members of the Irish Organizations United (IOU). The Ludlow family appreciates all the great work that these good friends in the United States are doing to promote this important event. This temporary page will be removed from IOU's website when the commemoration has taken place. This new page can be found at http://celticj1.tripod.com/IOU/ludlow//ludlow1.html  I Top I  I Previous I  I Next I Print this page. SUPPORT THE SEAMUS LUDLOW APPEAL FUND     Bank of Ireland 78 Clanbrassil Street Dundalk County Louth Ireland Account No. 70037984     Thank You.  I Home I I Previous I I Top I I First Ludlow Site I I Domain Name Version I I Questions I I Chronology I I Brief Review I I Profile I I BIRW Report I I Photographs I I Ludlow family's Letter to the RUC Chief Constable I I Hamilton Inquiry I I Contributors I I Linda Porra's Editorial I I  Jim J. Kane's Letter to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission  I I Jim J. Kane's Letter to the RUC I I Latest Reports I I Press Release I I 25th Anniversary I I Links I I New Guest Book  I I E-Mail Form I I Mailing List I I Tell a Friend I     Chronology: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7   This page was last updated: 12/07/05  Copyright © 2005 the Ludlow family. All rights reserved. Revised: July 12, 2005 .