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 Other Ludlow Family Sites. |
The Sunday Life, 12 July 1998: Ludlow-murder family doubtful of justice by Jackie McKeown A fresh investigation into a brutal murder has been completed by the RUC - 22 years after the horrific killing. A file is now on its way to the DPP and could result in charges being brought against three members of the loyalist Red Hand Commandos - two of them UDR men. But relatives of the murdered forestry worker, Seamus Ludlow, whose death has remained one of the biggest mysteries of the troubles, say they are doubtful his killers will ever be brought to justice. And they are calling on both governments to hold a public inquiry into the murder and the subsequent investigation. Branded Mr Ludlow, 47, was branded an IRA informer after he was shot and dumped by the roadside just south of the Newry-Dundalk border in May 1976. His nephew Michael Donegan says the Gardai immediately blamed the murder on the IRA and even suggested the family had something to do with it. The South Armagh man and his relatives in Co Louth fought to clear the bachelor's name. But little progress was made until earlier this year when Newtownards man Paul Hosking revealed he had been three loyalists when the murder happened. Hosking claimed he had been drinking with the men, one a UDR captain, in Comber when they decided to go south. He says they picked up Mr Ludlow who was walking home and when Hosking got out of the car to go top the toilet, he heard three bangs. He said one of the men fired a gun into the car and then dragged Mr Ludlow's body out, dumping it by the roadside. Questioned In February the RUC arrested and questioned four men - one from England and three from Northern Ireland - about the murder but they were released without charge. And on Friday Mr Donegan received a letter from his solicitor informing him that a file is expected to be submitted to the DPP within the next two weeks. He said: "I believe they have the evidence but there is clearly no will to put these men away. "Not only was my uncle murdered but they blackened his name as well. "I don't know why they are proceeding with it after all this time but if this case does go ahead, it will be explosive."
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