The Irish News, 20 May 2004:

By Valerie Robinson

Southern Correspondent

Louth County Coroner Ronan Maguire last night said he was determined to hold the inquest into the killing in 1976 of the Catholic forestry worker, right, before the end of July.

He said that "one way  or the other" the inquest would take place, despite the fact that gardai have yet to hand over details of ballistics evidence and an internal Garda report compiled by Chief Superintendent Ted Murphy in 1998 into the original murder investigation.

Mr Maguire, who was ordered to hold a new inquest by Attorney General Rory Brady in July 2002, said he also hoped to meet the solicitor of the Ludlow family "quite shortly".

"I'm still waiting for information from gardai. I still haven't received information on ballistics, although I have been told it will be through shortly," he said.

"I also haven't received a copy of the report into the investigation. Irrespective of that, I still hope to hold the inquest before the end of July."

Mr Maguire added that he was in regular contact with the Garda in relation to the inquest.

Mr Ludlow's nephew, Jimmy Sharkey, last night said the family was concerned that the coroner would be forced to adjourn the inquest pending further information from the gardai, if the force refused to cooperate fully.

He accused the Garda and the Irish government of attempting to hide the truth of the killing.

"The fact that there have been so many delays would suggest to us that the government has something to hide.

"We've asked repeatedly to see the internal Garda report and we've been ignored," Mr Sharkey said.

"Why can't we find out what the findings were?"

Mr Sharkey said the family had watched as the inquest into Disappeared victim Jean McConville's death was held "within a matter of weeks".

We want the full report. We don't want an edited version," Mr Sharkey said.

"Is the government afraid of embarrassment because of its contents? We have a right to know."

Mr Sharkey also said the family feared that the government would fall short of ordering a full public inquiry into the murder in the wake of its decision not to launch a Republic-based probe into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

Mr Ludlow, a 47-year-old bachelor was abducted on his way home from a night out by a loyalist gang and shot three times before being dumped in a laneway north of Dundalk.

Gardai initially blamed the IRA for the killing, but evidence has since implicated the Red Hand Commando and the British security forces in a cover-up.

Four men were arrested and questioned in 1998 in connection with the murder but no charges have ever been brought