Jim
J. Kane, Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States,
an activist
with Irish
Organizations United, is a valued supporter of the Ludlow family's
campaign for truth and justice.
Below
is the text of a letter Jim has sent to former RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan.
Jim has also written to Professor Brice Dickson,
Chairman of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
See
also the Ludlow family's own letter to the
former RUC
Chief Constable. (The RUC is now renamed the Police Service of Northern
Ireland (PSNI), and Ronnie Flanagan has now retired from the office of Chief Constable.) Regrettably, the
questions raised by the Ludlow family, and their friend Jim Kane, have not
been answered by the ex-Chief Constable, who has given no response to a request for
a meeting with the Ludlow family.
Subj: Seamus Ludlow, (deceased)
5-20-2000
Sir Ronnie Flanagan
Chief Constable
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Sir Ronnie:
I am writing in regard to a one Seamus Ludlow a 47 year old forestry worker from
Mount Pleasant who was murdered on 1 May 1976 in Dundalk.
Upon reading the many reports and in corresponding with his family members
there seems to be many unanswered questions and looks of a conspiracy and many
calls for a public inquiry into this case.
Demands from the Ludlow Family and from Human Rights Organizations, as well as
from The Louth County Council, Sinn Fein councilor Arthur Morgan chair person,
Louth Comhairle Ceanntair, TD Caoimhghin O. Caolain and British Irish Rights
Watch, whom also have compiled a lengthy dossier covering The Ludlow case.
In a report given by a Mr. Paul Hosking, the fourth man in the car that tragic
day, Mr. Hosking gives his report to the RUC Special Branch a full account of
the murder, including the name of the person who he said did the actual shooting,
and yet it was not until 1998, a year after the case was reopened that the four
were arrested for this murder. Mr. Hosking stated the murder was carried
out by three (3) UDR soldiers who were also members of the Loyalist Red Hand
Commandos, and he also stated in the National Press that the Garda were aware of
their identities in 1979.
The decision by the Northern Director of Public Prosecutions not to press
charges over the murder brings a very strong belief by many that there has been
a cover up by both the Garda and the RUC for over two decades.
In a letter dated 13 March 2000 the RT. Hon. Adam Ingram, JP Minister of State
writes to a member of the Ludlow family:
I am advised that information relating to the murder of your uncle was passed
by the RUC to the Garda in 1979. The Garda requested the assistance of
the RUC in 1978 which resulted in four arrests. All four were released without
charge, as you know the DPP after careful consideration of the police
investigation there was insufficient evidence to obtain a conviction against
anyone named in the file and they therefore directed no prosecution on that
case.
Sir, I would like to ask the following questions which are relevant to this
case:
For eleven years the RUC Special branch had an eye witness to the murder a Mr.
Paul Hosking who confessed that he gave a full account of the murder details to
the RUC Special branch in 1987.
Why have Seamus Ludlow's UDR and Red Hand Commando murderers never been brought
to justice even though they had been identified by the RUC and Garda more than
twenty years ago?
Was one of the four Loyalists an agent for the RUC, the British Army or for M15?
Why was evidence kept secret from the Ludlow Family for more than twenty years?
Why have the results of the ballistic reports never been revealed and what of
the reports about the orig. of the weapon that was used to kill Seamus?
Will the Garda and RUC ever permit the Ludlow family access to their investigation files?
Will the British and Irish authorities ever accede to the Ludlow family's demands for a full and public inquiry, where the family and its legal
representatives will have the right to view files and papers, and to subpoena
and question witnesses regarding the murder of Seamus and what seems to be a
cover-up on both sides of the border?
Sir, I wish to thank you for taking the time to review this correspondence and
also I am anxiously awaiting your reply which may help clarify the questions
asked. I do appreciate all the assistance you can provide.
Sincerely:
Jim J. Kane
Irish Organizations United
1420 N. Lincoln Avenue
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18508
USA
E-Mail...JJPK1@aol.com
To Top.
Here is the full text of the RUC's reply to the above,
dated 4 July 2000. While this reply does retread old ground and gives no new
information regarding the RUC's investigation of the murder of Seamus Ludlow it
does make a curious reference it not being "force policy to comment on
matters pertaining to "Agents"." Here is the full text of the
RUC's reply.
Dear Mr. Kane,
Murder of Seamus Ludlow
I refer to your correspondence of 5 May 2000 regarding
the above.
I am advised that information relative to the murder of
Mr. Ludlow was passed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary to An Garda Siochana in
1979.
I am further advised after a request from the Garda in
1998 the RUC arrested and interviewed four persons in relation to the murder.
All four persons were released pending a report to the Director of Public
Prosecutions. On 15 October 1999 the DPP directed "No Prosecution".
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.
Finally, the question of whether or not a public inquiry
should be held is not for the RUC to determine.
I trust this is of assistance.
Yours sincerely,
R.D. McCausland
Superintendent
for Chief Constable
SUPPORT
THE SEAMUS LUDLOW APPEAL FUND
Bank of Ireland
78 Clanbrassil Street
Dundalk
County Louth
Ireland
Account No. 70037984
Thank
You.
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