Report on 1974 bombings critical of govt
Wednesday, 10 December 2003 22:49
The Barron report on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, published this evening, criticises the Fine Gael-Labour government of the day for its response to the atrocity.
Thirty-three people died in the bombings in May 1974.
The report says the government of the time failed to show the concern expected of it.
The report is also highly critical of the garda investigation which followed.
The inquiry found that vital forensic records had been lost and this carelessness reflected a belief amongst the gardaí that no one was ever going to be charged.
In terms of any possible collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries north of the border, it says that it is not absurd to conclude that members of the army or police might have been involved in helping the bombers.
The report concluded it was likely that members of the UDR and RUC knew of the preparations to bomb Dublin and Monaghan.
But the report said there was no evidence of collusion between the bombers and the authorities in Northern Ireland.
The inquiry said on their reading of the evidence, this inference is not sufficiently strong.
They believe the bombings were provoked by moves to involve the Irish government in the administration of Northern Ireland through the FG agreement.
33 killed in 1974 bombings
Three car bombs exploded in Dublin city centre, on Parnell Street, Talbot Street and South Leinster Street.
It was a busy Friday evening in the capital: no warnings were given, and the explosions killed 26 people, including a pregnant woman.
A short time later, a bomb exploded in Monaghan town. Seven people were killed as a result of that explosion.
No one was ever prosecuted in connection with the bombings.
- Morning Ireland: Jane Winter, Director of British Irish Rights Watch, discusses the 1974 bombings
- 1.00 News: David Davin-Power, Political Correspondent, discusses the publication of the Barron Report
- 1.00 News: Joe Little, Religious & Social Affairs Correspondent, looks back at the 1974 bombings in Dublin and Monaghan
- 6.01 News: Orla O'Donnell, Dublin Correspondent, reports on the fallout from the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which killed 33 people
- 6.01 News: Sean Ardagh, Chairman of the Dáil Justice Committee, speaks live at the launch of the Barron report at Leinster House
- 6.01 News: Bryan Dobson outlines some of the judge's findings contained in the report
- 6.01 News: David Davin-Power, Political Correspondent, reports from the Dáil on what conclusions can be drawn from Justice Barron's report
- 6.01 News: Reporter Michael Heney asks Sean Ardagh if the report is in fact 'a damp squib'
- 6.01 News: Joe Little, Social Affairs Correspondent, reports on the reaction of the families of those killed in the bombings to the Barron report
- 6.01 News: Sean Ardagh, speaking to RTÉ from Leinster House, says that the report does not prove systemic collusion between the RUC and the UVF
- 6.01 News: Labour's Justice Spokesman Joe Costello says that the report does include some definite conclusions which will have to be explored further
- 9.00 News: David Davin-Power, Political Correspondent, reports on the judicial probe findings
- 9.00 News: Orla O'Donnell, Dublin Correspondent, reports on the deaths of 33 people in the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974
- 9.00 News: Joe Little, Religious & Social Affairs Correspondent, reports on reaction by the families of those who died in the blasts
- 9.00 News: John Kilraine reports on political reaction to the report
- 9.00 News: David Davin-Power, Political Correspondent, reports live from Government Buildings
