Justice at last for the forgotten victims of sectarian murder in Dundalk

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Alleged Collusion

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The Argus (Dundalk), 6 December 206:

Report of independent Commission of Inquiry into Dundalk bombing

'Authorities in the Republic should have been more vigorous to bring perpetrators to justice'

Principal conclusions of the Inquiry

One of the conclusions of the sub-committee that investigated the Dundalk bombing was that the authorities in the Republic could have been more vigorous in their attempts to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators.

The main conclusions were:

1. More should have been done by this State to assist the victims and they should not have been left in a position where they legitimately felt that they had been forgotten about.

2. There is no doubt that collusion existed between the security forces and terrorists and "we are horrified the persons employed by the British administration to preserve peace and protect people were engaged in the creation of violence and the butchering of people."

3. Unless the full truth about collusion is established and those involved either admit or are fixed with the responsibility then there cannot be closure for the families. There is also the risk that what occurred in the 1970s can happen again and for that reason these matters cannot be swept under the carpet.

4. Given that there were acts of international terrorism that were colluded in by the British security forces, the British Government cannot legitimnately refuse to co-operate with attempts to get to the truth.

5. There was an inadequate response from the British cabinet to the information that the security forces had been infiltrated by terrorists and they permitted the problem to continue and grow.

6. Authorities in this jurisdiction at all levels could have been more vigorous in their attempts to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. In saying this the sub-committee recognised that they were confronted by the non co-operation of the British authorities, instability of the times, and the threat posed to this State by certain organisations.

7. It is impossible to understand why documentation dealing with the the information supplied by the Irish Government to the British Government in August 1975 that four members of the RUC were also members of the UVF 'stopped dead in its tracks' on September 3rd, 1975 given the gravity of the issue. That fact that little or nothing was done to address this was, to put it mildly, alarming.

8. The assurance given by the the current head of the PSNI, Sir Hugh Orde that where collusion is found it will be pursued, but the saub-committee strongly urged the British proceed expeditiously with the establishment and work of the White Team in London to investigate collusion.

9. An Historical Inquiries team should be established in the Republic to investigate unsolved crimes like the Seamus Ludlow murder and the Dundalk bombing.

10. A full debate should be held both in the Dail and SEanad on the issue of collusion since it is necessary for there to be greater political impetus to highlight the fact that it occurred and to identify measures to bring closure to the victims.

11. The British have always reacted to these issues in a closed and drefensive manner with a natural instinct to defend the organisation or administration involved. There was therefore a need for officials to change the manner in which they think and act and to be more open about the past,

12. What occurred in Dundalk must, quite simply, never ever be allowed to happen again.

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See  early media reports from the http://www.breakingnews.ie/ dated 29 November 2006:

Britain 'Colluded Over Murders In Republic' 

and British security forces 'colluded in international terrorism'

See also the following report from ireland.com: Barron finds British collusion in attacks

The Argus (Dundalk), 29 November 2006: A high level of collusion found in Dundalk bombing

The Daily Telegraph, 29 November 2006: Ahern call for ‘collusion’ inquiry

Ulster Television News online, 29 November 2006:Green Party demand public inquiry

The Irish Examiner, 30 November 2006: Government backs report on collusion in North

The Irish Examiner, 30 November 2006: The nine attacks — a litany of terror and death

The Irish Examiner, 30 November 2006: ‘What we have heard today are things we have known for years’

The Irish Independent, 30 November 2006: British colluded in 'butchery'

The Irish Times, 30 November 2006: London must co-operate on collusion inquiries - Ahern

The Dundalk Democrat, 6 December 2006: Dundalk Bombings News Special: Reports by Anne Marie Eaton:

Taoiseach supports debate on collusion

Hope at last for victims families

Case gets attention it deserves

Truth must emerge

The Argus (Dundalk), 6 December 2006: News Special Report of Independent Commission of Inquiry into Dundalk Bombing

International Terrorism Can UK now legitimately refuse to co-operate with investigation in the light of 9/11 and London bomb?

A Culture of secrecy existed together with a grudging handing over of information

'Irish Govt. guilty of worse crime than bombers - they covered up'

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