I wish to give one minute of my time to Deputy Gregory.
Adjournment Debate. - Dublin and Monaghan Bombings in 1974.
Is that satisfactory and agreed? Agreed.
Last night's television programme about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings raises the most serious concerns about the investigation into the bombings, about the planning and planting of the bombs and about what now appears to have been a cover up by Northern and British authorities with a possible compliance of the then Irish Government.
According to the programme, the Garda had within weeks of the bombings established a list of 20 suspects, eight of whom had been identified by eye witnesses and some of whom, according to the Garda, could have been taken to court on the evidence that was then available. However, the Garda investigation was apparently frustrated by the RUC, the suspects were never interviewed either by the Garda or by the RUC and there appears to have been a cover up of the whole affair.
There are now a number of serious issues which must be addressed. First, why was the Garda investigation frustrated by the RUC? Why were the suspects never interviewed and why were the Garda never permitted to pursue their investigation? Was there a massive coverup by the Northern and UK authorities? Second, did the Garda, as was inferred in the programme, report on this to their political masters, the then Dublin Government, and if they did what action, if any, was taken by the Dublin Government to obtain clearance from the British authorities for the continuation of the investigation? One of the most extraordinary aspects of the whole issue is that no action was apparently taken by the Irish Government following the frustration of the Garda investigation and following the Garda report on this matter to their governmental superiors.
Was British Intelligence involved in the planning and execution of the bombings? The evidence presented on the programme suggests that Loyalist paramilitaries did not then have the expertise to plan and to plant bombs of such sophistication and that as the respected former Garda Commissioner, Eamon Doherty, stated, "they must have been helped." Did that help come, as is implied by the former military intelligence officers who were interviewed on the programme, from military intelligence and possibly from the SAS?
What are we to make of the statement made by the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Merlyn Rees, who effectively stated that there was a SAS operation based in Lisburn which was out of control and which, as the programme implies, may have been involved in the Dublin bombings.
These matters must be addressed and clarified urgently. The issue should now be taken up at the highest level with the British authorities, it should be raised with the British Prime Minister and, indeed, at the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference. A method must be found to pursue the investigation which is independent and seen to be independent. In view of the possible involvement of British Intelligence in the bombings it may be necessary to have an investigation carried out by some independent international force, possibly under the supervision of the United Nations or of the European Community. This whole issue cannot now be allowed to become a one day wonder and must be followed up urgently. To do less than that is to deny justice to those who lost their lives not only in these bombings but in the many other bombings and atrocities that have occurred over the past 25 years on this island on both sides of the Border.
I call on the Minister for Justice to spearhead an immediate investigation into this issue, to establish an inquiry and to report back to this House on the issue. Earlier this evening I attended a public meeting on this matter which was attended by relatives of persons killed and injured in the bombings and they are insisting that there should be a full judicial inquiry into this affair and I support that call.
With regard to the individual referred to in the programme as "The Jackal", and whose identity is widely known, will this matter be addressed urgently in view of the assertion made in the programme that he continues to be involved in numerous horrific murders in the North including the murders of three members of two families, the O'Dowds and the Reidys, while allegedly under the protection of the security forces in the North? This is the same protection that all of the 1974 bombers allegedly had and which this man appears to continue to enjoy.
I attended a meeting of relatives of the victims this evening and they specifically want to know did the Garda report the lack of co-operation of the RUC to the then Minister for Justice, Mr. Cooney, and if so why was no action apparently taken? Will the Minister have the matter raised at the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference tomorrow to seek to establish why not one of the suspects identified in the Garda evidence to the RUC was arrested, charged or even questioned by the RUC? Will the Minister raise also the statement of Merlyn Rees in the programme that there was a SAS unit out of control in the area at the time and also the allegation that the British security services were implicated in the bombings? Can the Minister indicate what type of inquiry she will consider to determine the truth concerning all these questions? Will she consider referring this matter to a select committee of the Dáil or a sub-committee of the Select Committee on Legislation and Security? The relatives, understandably, want a full public inquiry.
The Dublin and Monaghan bombings in May 1974 claimed 33 lives. We owe it to those victims and to their relatives and friends to ensure that every possible effort is made to bring those responsible for the bombings to justice. The division in Northern Ireland which erupted the violence of the past 20 years has produced enormous tragedy. The appalling events in Dublin and Monaghan on 17 May 1974 stand out not only among the most tragic events of those years but in the history of this State. Thirty three innocent people were slaughtered and a great many more lives of the injured, their friends and relatives were scarred. Some of those still living have been permanently scarred, others since deceased, carried their loss to the grave.
It is incumbent upon us to ensure not only that the ongoing effort to find the culprits is characterised by vigour but also that it is characterised by integrity. As I informed the House in answer to a question on the subject earlier this afternoon, the bombings in Dublin and Monaghan in 1974 were the subject of an intensive Garda investigation over a protracted period of time during which all relevant leads were pursued. Unfortunately, despite those intensive inquiries, no charges have so far been brought in connection with the bombings.
The Garda, whose files on these events remain open, are at present considering the contents of last night's programme with a view to assessing as a matter of urgency whether there are any matters which require further investigation. They will follow any and every lead to bring these culprits to justice. In this connection, I welcome the assurance at the conclusion of last night's programme that the programme makers will co-operate with any properly constituted inquiry. The proper and most appropriate form of inquiry in this instance is the police investigation which is already under way.
Any investigation into crimes of this nature must have as its purpose the collection of sufficient evidence which will be admissible in a court of law to enable the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Only a properly conducted Garda investigation will achieve that end. It would be grossly misleading and, therefore, lacking in integrity to pretend otherwise. Suspicions, however strongly held, do not secure criminal convictions. The idea that other forms of inquiry at this point would be more likely to produce a result in terms of securing criminal convictions simply lacks substance. I am not suggesting that those who call for such inquiries actually intend to mislead but, unfortunately, that would be the practical result and we should not pretend otherwise.
I can assure the House that the Garda have my full support in their ongoing investigations into these horrendous crimes against the people of Dublin and Monaghan. I reiterate that the Garda files remain open and any and every lead will be followed to bring the culprits to justice. The Garda Commissioner is heading up the present investigation following last night's programme and will be reporting to me urgently this week.
Deputy Mulvihill was selected by me to raise a matter on the Adjournment but the Deputy subsequently withdrew the matter.
The Dáil adjourned at 12.30 a.m. on Thursday, 8 July 1994 until 10.30 a.m.