Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 3

Written Answers. - Unexplained Deaths.

Seamus Kirk

Question:

297 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will examine the feasibility of establishing a truth and reconciliation forum to process such cases as the Seamus Ludlow murder and other unexplained deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18047/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Deputy will be aware that the Victims Commissioner, Mr. John Wilson, in his report "A Place and a Name" stated in respect of Mr Ludlow's case:

I am aware of the family's strong wish that the full truth of the case should be brought to light. I am swayed by their argument that a criminal trial will not necessarily bring out the full facts of the case. I recommend that an inquiry should be conducted into this case along the lines of the inquiry into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.

The Government decided in principle in September 1999 to establish an inquiry into the case of Mr. Ludlow as well as the bombings in Dublin-Monaghan and Dundalk. This proposed inquiry – which would be carried out on the same basis as the present inquiry into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings – has not found favour with the relatives of Mr. Ludlow or their legal representatives. In the circumstances, I am considering how best to progress the matter, and I shall put proposals to this end before Government as soon as I am in a position to do so.

In so far as other cases are concerned, the report of the Victims Commission recommended "that the Government, taking heed of the need to preserve confidentiality and safety of informants, should, on request from the families of victims, produce reports on the investigations of murders arising from the conflict over the past 30 years where no one has been made amenable." I am currently preparing an implementation plan in respect of the report's recommendations which I hope to bring to Government shortly.