Last Edited: 02 May, 2006 Go
to the most recent press report . . .
Press Coverage.
Here in these new pages, in chronological order, are press and
other media reports of Seamus Ludlow's sectarian murder in County Louth in
1976 and the Ludlow family's long struggle for truth and
justice.
For the most part the articles, from local Newry and Dundalk
newspapers and national daily and Sunday press, and other publications,
are reproduced without comment. Many of the articles included on these
pages have never been available online before.
Included here are the Sunday Tribune's editorial calling for
an inquiry and ICCL's strong declaration of support for the Ludlow
family's demand for a public inquiry. Included also are a few brief
reports about the Dublin/Monaghan, Dundalk and Castleblayney bombings that
claimed many lives in the months before Seamus Ludlow's murder. Also
featured are reports of the progress of the private Barron Inquiry in
Dublin and the long-awaited fresh inquest in Dundalk, both of which are
due to end in 2004..
Press reports from 1976 reflect the horror that was felt by the
Ludlow family and the immediate north Louth and south Armagh neighbourhood
when Seamus Ludlow's dead body was found.
Looking back at those 1976 reports from a 2002 perspective it is
notable that none of the articles featured on these pages reflect the
Ludlow family's personal and private experience of shameful Gardai lies
and hostility. Indeed, the reports reflect only public statements that the
murder remained a mystery to the Gardai, while in fact the Ludlow family
was being privately subjected to lies about alleged IRA involvement - and,
worse still, vile lies about the involvement of members of Seamus' own
family in his foul murder.
Another point that arises from these 1976 reports is the apparent
absence of statements - either expressing sympathy or outrage - from the
Dublin Government of that time. Indeed, the only national figure found to
have gone on record was the late Patrick Donegan TD, Minister for Defence,
in the Fine Gael-Irish Labour Party coalition government. Mr Donegan was a
TD for County Louth and he was a personal acquaintance of the late Seamus
Ludlow, who was a fellow-member of the Fine Gael party. It seems strange
that the Dublin government itself appears to have had nothing to say about
the murder of Seamus Ludlow.
Go
to the most recent report . . . .
The Dundalk Democrat, 8 May 1976: Mountpleasant
man murdered in cold blood Grim discovery on a by-road
The Dundalk Democrat, 8 May 1976: A
brutal murder
The Sunday Press, 9 May 1976: "Santa"
NO CLUE Town is outraged.
The Sunday World (Southern edition), 9 May 1976:
Death
in a lovers' lane...Who
killed Santa Claus Gardai
call us in to help
The
Sunday World (Southern edition), 9 May 1976
(Continued): The spot where Santa Claus died
The Irish Press, 10 May 1976:
Murder probe: no link with the SAS Gardai issue denial
The Argus, 14 May 1976: Sympathy
with murder victim
The Argus, 14 May 1976: Louth
murder: Provo statement
The Dundalk Democrat, 15 May 1976: The
Ludlow murder No fresh developments
The Irish Independent, 16 May 1976: Murder
Victim Wrong Man?
The Sunday World, 16 May 1976: Mistaken
identity theory in Santa Claus killing. He was the "double" of top
Provo
The Argus, 27 August 1976: Inquest
hears of North Louth shooting
Monaghan
County of Intrigue (1979) by the late Michael Cunningham: Quoting
from Mr. Cunningham's account of his private investigation of Seamus
Ludlow's murder.
The Argus, special report 30 August 1985: On May 1st
1974, a forestry worker left his home to go for a drink: the following day
his bullet riddled body was found. Nine years later we ask: WHO KILLED
SEAMUS LUDLOW?
The Irish Times, 3 May 1996: Call to reopen 1976 murder
The Dundalk Democrat, 4 May 1996: The
Seamus Ludlow murder
The Dundalk Democrat,11 May 1996: New
information on Ludlow murder
The Sunday Tribune, 8 March 1998: Ed Moloney The
killing of Seamus Ludlow: Northern Editor reports on how the RUC covered
up the part played by members of the security forces in a loyalist gang
murder in County Louth in 1976.
The
Argus (Dundalk), 13 March 1998: Can the long arm
of the law be extended 22 years?
The Sunday Tribune, 15 March 1998: Questions
raised over Ludlow Murder.
The Sunday Tribune Editorial, 15 March 1998: Time
for Ludlow Inquiry.
The Dundalk Democrat, 21 March 1998: Ludlow
Murder - Nearer the Truth?
The Argus, 19 June 1998: Call for
public inquiry into Ludlow murder
The
Dundalk Democrat, 20 June 1998: Public
enquiry called for into Ludlow murder
The Argus, 3 July 1998: Charges
may help resolve a 22 year mystery File
Prepared on Ludlow murder
The Sunday Life, 12 July 1998: Ludlow-murder
family doubtful of justice
The Sunday World, 12 July 1998: Loyalist
Suspects Held For 22-Year 'IRA' Killing
The Sunday Tribune, 30 August 1998: Gardai
had identities of Ludlow's killers
The Dundalk Democrat, 5 September 1998: Family
Receive Further Information on Ludlow Murder
The Sunday Independent, 20 September 1998: Gardai
have reopened 20-year-old murder case
The Sunday Life, 20 September 1998: Loyalist
denies role in mystery murder
The Dundalk Democrat, 26 September 1998: Ludlow
investigations pick up pace?
The Sunday World, 27 September 1998: Ludlow
killers were known for years Suspects identities passed to police but
arrests never made
The Newry Reporter, 8 October 1998: Family
blames Loyalists Family fights to clear murder victim's name Demand for
public inquiry
The Belfast Telegraph, 10 October 1998: Who
really murdered Seamus Ludlow?
The Dundalk Democrat, 24 October 1998: Ludlow
file sent to DPP
The Sunday Mirror, 25 October 1998: RAGE
AT BORDER RAID ‘INVITES’
The Examiner (formerly The Crossmaglen Examiner), 27 October 1998:
Public
Inquiry into murder of Seamus Ludlow expected to open soon Civil Rights Group Report ready by New Year
ICCL News The Newsletter of the Irish Council for Civil
Liberties, November 1998, Volume 10, Number 3: Inquiry
Call into Murder cover-up
The Sunday Life, 29 November 1998: Murder
cover-up conspiracy probe
The Dundalk Democrat, 16 January 1999: Ludlow
murder - investigations continue
The Argus, 12 February 1999: Ludlow
murder: Public meeting called for Dundalk "Family
are not going to let this matter die"
The Dundalk Democrat, 13 February 1999: Report
on Ludlow murder
Ireland on Sunday, 14 February 1999: What's
the truth? There are at least three unusual aspects to the brutal murder
over 20 years ago of Seamus Ludlow outside Dundalk. Some hard questions
will be posed a public inquiry in Dundalk town hall this Thursday
night.
The Newry Democrat, 17 February 1999: Public
meeting to call for inquiry into the Seamus Ludlow murder
The Newry Reporter, 18 February 1999: Ludlow
murder - human rights group backs public inquiry
The Irish News, 19 February 1999: Gardai
accused of killing cover-up
The Dundalk Democrat, 20 February 1999: Ludlow
family call for public inquiry
The Sunday Tribune, 21 February 1999: Ludlow
inquiry faces resistance Calls for Ludlow inquiry face official resistance
from Justice department, writes Ed Moloney
The Belfast Telegraph, 22 February 1999: Inquiry
demand into 1976 killing
The Examiner (formerly The Crossmaglen Examiner), 23 February 1999: Family
calls for public inquiry into killing
An Phoblacht-Republican News, 25 February
1999:
The Argus, 26 February 1999: Seamus
Ludlow: The unanswered questions
The Argus, 26 February 1999: Claim
the police know who did killing
The Argus, 26 February 1999: Family
feel that Irish authorities colluded in a cover-up to protect
guilty
The Argus, 26 February 1999: Interview implicated UDR captain in death
The Dundalk Democrat, 27 February 1999: Further
support for Ludlow family
Saoirse Irish Freedom, March 1999: Ludlow
killing: Dublin’s catalogue of shame
The Examiner (formerly The Crossmaglen Examiner), 2 March 1999: Family
of Seamus Ludlow seek Council support
The Irish News, 13 March 1999: Minister's
pledge of justice in 1976 case Reassurances to relatives of murder
victim
The Dundalk Democrat, 27 March 1999: Further
progress in "Ludlow" enquiries
MAGILL Ireland's Current Affairs Monthly, April 1999: Murder, Collusion & Lies
The Irish News, 13 April 1999: Council
backs appeal plea by victim's family
The Dundalk Democrat, 17 April 1999: Newry
Council support Ludlow family cause
The Sunday Times, 2 May 1999: RUC
probes claims of police collusion with terrorists
The Irish News, 5 May 1999: Victim's
relatives unveil plaque
Ireland on Sunday, 9 May 1999: Dundalk
family demands end to lies
The Irish News, 11 May 1999: Family
of victim hits out at RUC and gardai
The Argus, 14 May 1999: Ludlow
family invited to lay wreath
The Sunday Tribune, 16 May 1999: Ludlow
inquiry shows collusion
The Irish Independent, 19 May 1999: New
Inquiry to unravel mystery of 1976 murder
The Irish News, 20 May 1999: Gardai
to launch probe into 1976 border killing
The Argus, 21 May 1999: "Great
news" say members of family Full enquiry into Ludlow murder has been
ordered
The Irish News, 21 May 1999: Ludlow
inquiry moves expected
Dundalk Democrat, 22 May 1999: Government
inquiry into Ludlow murder?
The Sunday Tribune, 23 May 1999: Cabinet
to decide on Ludlow inquiry
The Irish News, 24 May 1999: Collusion
inquiry ‘to shake Republic’
The Examiner (formerly The Crossmaglen Examiner), 25 May 1999: Ludlow
inquiry to be announced
The Newry Democrat, 26 May 1999: Ludlow
inquiry receives cautious welcome from family
The Sunday World (Northern Edition), 30 May 1999: Republic's
shock over Gardai/Brit collusion
Will the Irish politicians dig for truth about '74
bombs
The Irish News, 2 July 1999: Family
still awaits DPP verdict
The Irish News, 27 July 1999: Family
angry at "stalling" over inquiry
RTE, 05 August 1999: Relatives of
1974 bomb victims demand public inquiry
BBC: Thursday, 5 August,
1999 Special
Report Inquiry call into 1974 loyalist
atrocity
The Irish Times, 6 August 1999: Private
inquiry likely into 1974 bombings
Victims angry at proposal
The Irish Examiner, 6 August 1999: Perceptions
of cover up from a closed inquiry
The Irish Examiner, 6 August 1999: Victims demand justice
The Irish News, 7 August 1999: Ludlows
call for public inquiry
The Dundalk Democrat, 7 August 1999: Ludlow
murder inquiry report "A place and a name"
The Sunday Tribune, 8 August 1999: The
case that is not going to go away
The Examiner (formerly The Crossmaglen Examiner), 10 August 1999: Report
recommends inquiries into Ludlow murder, Dundalk bombing
The Irish Echo, 11-17 August, 1999: Report
urges private bomb probe of 1974 Republic bombs
An Phoblacht / Republican News, 12 August 1999: Dublin/Monaghan
and Ludlow inquiries must be public Report of the Victims
Commission
The Dundalk Democrat, 14 August 1999: "Ludlow
inquiry must be public" - says Arthur Morgan
The Dundalk Democrat, 14 August 1999: "Dublin/Monaghan
bombings inquiry should be public" says O Caolain
The Dundalk Democrat, 21 August 1999: "A
deafening silence"
The Sunday Tribune, Letters to the Editor, 19 September
1999: In
support of Ed Moloney
The Irish Examiner, 30 September 1999: Bombings
investigations but no public inquiry
The Irish Times, 30 September 1999: Relatives condemn bombings inquiry plan
The Argus Weekender, 2 October 1999: Cabinet
broadens scope of enquiry to include the Dundalk bombing
The Dundalk Democrat, 2 October 1999: Private
enquiries into Ludlow murder and Dundalk bombing
The Sunday Tribune, 3 October 1999: Ludlow
inquiry limited
The Irish Times, 13 October 1999: Victims
seek wider inquiry
The Irish News, 13 October 1999: Families
call for inquiries into loyalist murders
An Phoblacht/Republican News, 14 October 1999: Relatives
demand justice
The Dundalk Democrat, 16 October 1999: "Border
Relatives" group established
The Sunday Tribune, Sunday 17 October 1999, by Ed Moloney: North's
DPP has decided not to charge Loyalists arrested in connection with Ludlow
killing
The Irish Times, 20 October 1999: DPP
decides against Ludlow case charges
The Irish News, 20 October 1999: Relatives
reject "cover-up" inquiry
The Irish News, 21 October 1999: SF
calls for inquiry into '76 murder
An Phoblacht/Republican News, 21 October 1999: No
prosecutions in Ludlow case Call on Taoiseach to revise decision on
'private' inquiry
The Argus, 22 October 1999: RUC decide
not to prosecute the men who admit to the murder
The Dundalk Democrat, 23 October 1999: No
prosecution in Ludlow murder
The Examiner (formerly The Crossmaglen Examiner), 26 October 1999: Sinn
Fein condemns DPP decision
An Phoblacht/Republican News, 4 November 1999: Taoiseach
to "reassess'' Ludlow case
The Dundalk Democrat, 6 November 1999: TD's
questions about Ludlow case
The Irish Independent, 8 November 1999: Wilson
supports extradition of four
The Sunday Tribune, 12 December 1999:
