The Murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth, May 1976. Towards a public inquiry?
The Murder of Seamus Ludlow in County Louth, May 1976. Towards a public inquiry?
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Introduction to the murder of Seamus Ludlow and the official cover-up. Michael Cunningham investigation - 1978 The recent Campaign for Truth and Justice. Irish Victims Commission Report. Ludlow family's questions for the RUC (now the PSNI). Jim J. Kane's letter to the N I Human Rights Commission. Jim J. Kane's letter to the RUC Ludlow Family Letter to Bertie Ahern View messages from our original Guestbook Other Ludlow Family Sites.
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The Dundalk Democrat, 21 December 2002: Nearly 30 years on from Dundalk bombing and the fight for justice continues By Anne Campbell Today (Thursday) marks the 27th anniversary of the Dundalk bombing. on 19th December 1975, two men, Jack Rooney and Hugh Watters, were killed when a car bomb exploded outside Kay's Tavern in Crowe Street. Over 20 people were injured. Maura McKeever, Jack's daughter, and Margaret Watters have been campaigning for a number of years for a public inquiry into their fathers' deaths and are frustrated that their pleas are falling on deaf ears. There have been more developments in 2002 in the campaign to find out who bombed Dundalk than in any previous year. However, the inquiry into the Dundalk, Dublin and Monaghan bombings, headed by Justice Barron, continued its work. The Barron Inquiry was set up three years ago at the request of bombing victims' group Justice for the Forgotten. Since its establishment, it has been dogged with comments that its scope is too limited. It does not have the power to subpoena witnesses and is entirely dependent on voluntary co-operation. Magill Magazine revealed this year that the Inquiry has received co-operation from the Gardai and the RUC but not the Special Branch. Earlier in 2002, replying to a question from the Opposition, the Taoiseach revealed that he had passed a memo to Tony Blair and his officials reiterating what Justice Barron required by way of information from their administration. "Mr Justice Barron received an amount of information previously but has not got all the information he requires or answers to some of the issues he raised", Mr Ahern told the Dail. "Whether that information is available or will be handed over is uncertain. We have had a commitment from the Prime Minister and from the Secretary of State, Mr John Reid, that they would provide everything they had through their own intelligence agencies. "Mr Justice Barron is still unsatisfied and that is the position", he added. "It is important, in order to have as full and accurate a report as possible, that everyone with relevant information co-operates fully". The Taoiseach continued: "As I pointed out to the last Dail, Mr Justice Barron has received some of the information that he sought but not everything. "It will be a matter for him to assess and comment in his report on the co-operation he has received from the various authorities with which he has been in contact. My role has been to endeavour, as best I can, to get that information". The Magill article states: "(We) understand that the (Barron) Inquiry has obtained strong new evidence that would indicate at least a willingness on the part of certain sections of the British military to engage in grave undercover actions". A sum of 300,000 euro was set aside to cover all the work of the independent commission and Justice Barron is currently writing the report. It is expected to be submitted to the Oireachtas joint committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights early in the New Year. The government envisages that the committee would consider the follow-up to the report in public session. Maura McKeever hopes that the Barron report will not stop short of recommending a full public inquiry into the bombings. "We have been waiting for a very long time for a public inquiry", she said this week. "Nothing else will uncover the extent of collusion, if there was any, between the bombers and elements of the British military. "We also have a lot of questions about the Garda investigation into our fathers' deaths. As the anniversary comes round, my mother says that she just wants to know the truth. "We are not looking for retribution, just the facts about what happened and why. It's very sad that we have come to the 27th anniversary of Mr Watters' and my father's deaths and we are still none the wiser. "The Barron report has been delayed on numerous occasions and I sincerely hope that it is ready very early in the New Year", she added.
See also : The Dundalk Bombing The Dundalk Democrat, 26 January 2002: Blayney bombing to feature in new book The Dundalk Democrat, 4 May 2002: Dundalk bombing enquiry The Dundalk Democrat, 18 May 2002: Book claims to identify Dundalk bombers Magill Magazine, September 2002:The Truth Trickles Out Mystery has always surrounded the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings. An independent inquiry has been set up to look at the events surrounding the attacks, and the bombing of Dundalk the following year. Donall O Maolfabhail reports on its likely findings. The Dundalk Democrat, 21 September 2002: Barron investigations lead to public inquiry into Dundalk bombing The Dundalk Democrat, 21 December 2002: Author identifies those who may have been responsible Book on bombing to be launched on Saturday
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