“Every conversation between any Taoiseach and British Prime Minister should include challenge on Dublin-Monaghan bombings” – Carthy tells Dáil
Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has said that no conversation should ever take place between any Taoiseach and a British Prime Minister at which the issue of the Dublin Monaghan bombings is not raised.
Deputy Carthy was speaking during questions to Micheál Martin following the most recent meeting of the British Irish Council. Describing the bombings as the crystallizing of British collusion with loyalist death squads he noted that the British government continued to refuse to release their files on the atrocities.
Deputy Carthy told the Dáil:
“Just over 47 years ago, in May 1974, 33 innocent people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
“Those bombings were carried out by the Glenanne gang which included members of the Ulster Volunteer Force, UVF, MI5, the RUC and the Ulster Defence Regiment, UDR. The bombings were the crystallisation of collusion policy but nobody has ever been brought to justice.
“Successive British Governments have refused to release the files they have on the atrocities. The Dáil has, on three separate occasions, passed unanimous motions calling on the British Government to release all pertinent files and calling on the Irish Government to press the British to comply with this most reasonable request.
“As recently as a month ago, Ministers reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to seeking the truth behind the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Did the Taoiseach raise the Dublin and Monaghan bombings at the recent British-Irish Council meeting? When did the Taoiseach last make a request to the British Prime Minister for the release of documents held by the British Government?
“It is my firm belief that no conversation should ever take place between any Taoiseach and British Prime Minister where this issue is not raised until such time as the British Government releases its files so that we can provide the truth and justice that the families of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings deserve”.
In response the Taoiseach said: “I never lose an opportunity to raise the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and I did so again at the most recent meeting I had with the British Prime Minister when we discussed legacy issues. Successive Irish Governments have consistently sought all of the information in British hands on that terrible atrocity that was committed in 1974”.
ENDS
