Victim’s relative calls for justice on anniversary of Dublin Monaghan bombs
A TYRONE relative of the Monaghan and Dublin bomb victims has called for a fresh investigation to be launched into the atrocity which killed 33 people this day 37 years ago.
Brantry Republican Gerry McGeough, who is serving a jail sentence for attempted murder, called on DUP MLA Maurice Morrow to campaign for a cross-border enquiry to investigate the involvement of loyalists and the British security forces.
As well as the fatalities, hundreds were injured when three loyalist bombs exploded in the Irish Republic on 17 May 1974.
It was the biggest loss of life on a single day in the course of the Troubles.
The bombings took place while loyalist workers held a general strike in Northern Ireland to bring down the power-sharing government set up under the Sunningdale Agreement.
Mr McGeough, whose uncle was seriously injured in the Monaghan bomb, said he wanted Lord Morrow to pursue this justice issue as he has done others related to the Troubles.
“Given that this is the anniversary of the biggest atrocity of the Troubles, I think it is timely to make this call, especially given the fact that the Queen is visiting Ireland on the same day”, said Mr McGeough speaking from jail.
“I was a fourteen year old boy at the time of the bombs and I remember hearing the explosion in Brantry which was more than 20 miles away from Monaghan.
“I later found out my uncle had been injured in the attack. Given the fact that a woman from Dungannon was also killed in the Dublin bomb I want my local political representatives to pursue this matter vigorously.
“Millions of pounds have been spent on other historical cases, such as my own trial, and I believe that the justice system should be proportionate and fair.
“The victims of these bombs have largely been forgotten which is a tragedy that needs to be rectified.”
In spite of a campaign launched by relatives of the bombs, a full cross-border public inquiry has yet to take place.
A report carried out by Justice Henry Barron in 2003 was critical of the Fine Gael/Labour government of the day, which he found could have done more to catch those responsible.
It was also highly critical of the Irish police investigation into the Ulster Volunteer Force bombings.
The report could not reach a conclusion as to whether there was collusion by British authorities, but found that there were grounds for suspecting the bombers may have had help from members of the British security forces.
It is alleged that the principal perpetrators, members of the UVF from Portadown, were aided and abetted by members of the British security services and that the Garda’s initially promising investigation - it had the names of 20 suspects within weeks - was frustrated by the RUC.
At least three of the bombing team, all now dead, have been identified as paid informers.
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