Vol. 524 No. 3
21 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has responded to the German Government in relation to the continuing refusal to honour its obligations arising from the World War II bombing of the m.v. Loch Ryan which resulted in such major loss and damage to the owner and skipper and his family. [22367/00]
The longstanding case of the m.v. Loch Ryan involves a claim for compensation by Ireland against Germany arising from the bombing of an Irish vessel, the m.v. Loch Ryan, by German war planes off the coast of Cornwall on 16 August 1940. The case has been taken up with Germany at intervals over the years, most recently, as the Deputy will be aware, in May of this year when our Embassy in Berlin renewed Ireland's claim with the authorities there.
As the German authorities are of the view that all issues arising from the Second World War have been settled, their response to our most recent approach remained as before, namely, that the claim could not be admitted. The terms of this latest response were made known both to the family of the master of the m.v. Loch Ryan, the late Captain James Nolan, and to the Deputy. I have the utmost sympathy and understanding for the position of the Nolan family in their desire to have this case brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
At a meeting held on 26 July, officials of my Department, the Nolan family's representative and the Deputy discussed in light of the latest German response how the matter should be advanced. Since then, my Department has carried out a further detailed study of the case, taking the views of the Nolan family fully into account. I am currently giving careful consideration to a comprehensive submission prepared by my officials and hope to reach an early decision on it. I will be pleased to keep the Nolan family's representative, and the Deputy, informed of further developments on the case.
