Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has described as appalling the fact that the British Government is continuing to refuse to establish a full investigation into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.
Deputy Smith was speaking during a Dáil debate to mark the 42nd anniversary of the atrocities.
Deputy Smith commented, “For our country to truly move forward we need to put in place mechanisms that deal with the legacies of the past. Victims and survivors, be they of atrocities committed North or South have a basic entitlement to the truth.
“The most evil of crimes and large-scale murder were witnessed on this island, perpetrated by paramilitary organisations and some British State forces were also involved in the most heinous of crimes. For the families concerned the truth must be forthcoming.
“I join with other members of this House in calling again on the British Government to remove all obstacles to full and proper investigations in to the bombings and the murder of innocent people in Monaghan and Dublin in May 1974.
“We are all aware that unfortunately in May 1974 34 people were murdered in Dublin and Monaghan and 300 injured and nobody has been brought to justice. Those atrocities resulted in the highest number of casualties on any one day during that difficult era commonly referred to as The Troubles.
“The UVF, a loyalist paramilitary group, claimed responsibility for the bombings but there are credible allegations that elements of the British security forces colluded with the UVF in the bombings.
“Over the past number of years in meetings that I had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers and also with the British Ambassador I raised, each time, with them the need for the British Government to respond positively to the unanimous call of Dáil Éireann for British co-operation in a full and proper investigation of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings.
“I want to commend the work of Justice for the Forgotten. They have been strong, effective advocates on behalf of many victims and the families of victims.
“I fully appreciate that the process of trying to get justice for many families of the bereaved has been absolutely frustrating, painful and indeed, totally unacceptable.
“The bombing in Belturbet on December 1972 which resulted in the deaths of two teenagers, Geraldine O’Reilly and Paddy Stanley must be fully investigated. Nobody has ever been brought to justice for this atrocity. This horrific bombing must be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice”.