Justice at last for the forgotten victims of sectarian murder in Dundalk
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Justice at last for the forgotten victims of sectarian murder in Dundalk |
Magill Magazine article Sept. 2002
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Gardaí
Faced 'Brick Wall' In North Inquiry John
Downes
Garda
efforts to investigate loyalist bombings in the Republic
in the 1970s frequently hit a "brick wall" once their
inquiries led them north of the Border, an Oireachtas sub-committee
heard yesterday. Retired
Garda Sgt Owen Corrigan told the sub-committee on the
Barron report on the bombing of Kay's Tavern in in
December 1975, that in one such instance, the initially helpful
attitude of a senior RUC Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) officer "changed completely". This
happened in February 1979 when Mr Corrigan and his superior
officer, retired Chief Supt John Courtney, sought to
meet an RUC constable in The
constable was understood to have information about the theft
of the car used in the bombing of Kay's Tavern, but the
two gardaí were not permitted by the CID officer to meet
him. Mr
Courtney agreed with this. Gardaí had "no authority" to go
to the North to question individuals and were dependent upon
RUC co-operation, he said. However
he had passed information regarding the suspected membership
of RUC officers in the gang involved in many of the
murders on to Garda security and intelligence, known as C3. Both
men agreed, in response to questioning from Senator Jim
Walsh (FF), that it was their belief that there was collusion
between British forces, the RUC and those involved
in the bombing. Garda
Commissioner Noel Conroy said any files requested by Mr
Justice Henry Barron had been given to him.
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