Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 April 2014
192. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will implement the recommendations of the final report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights on the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the murder of Seamus Ludlow in March 2006. [18458/14]
View answer193. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to implement the recommendation of the final report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights on the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the murder of Seamus Ludlow that a commission of investigation be established to investigate the following: if the evidence collected at the scene of the murder of Seamus Ludlow in 1976 was available in 1979; if not, the reason; the reason credible leads given to the Garda by the Northern Ireland police force were not followed up; the reason the four named suspects were not interviewed; if there was a policy in existence not to interview suspects in Northern Ireland for crimes committed in this jurisdiction; if a decision was taken not to actively pursue the investigation of the murder of Seamus Ludlow; and if so, the person who took that decision and the reason for same. [18459/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.
The killing of Seamus Ludlow in May 1976 was a callous act of violence for which there can be no justification. It was, above all, a tragedy for Seamus Ludlow's family.
As the Deputy will be aware the late Mr. Justice Henry Barron carried out a lengthy and detailed inquiry into a number of brutal atrocities committed in the State in the 1970s which claimed the lives of innocent people, including into the murder of Seamus Ludlow and surrounding events. The Barron Inquiry's report on the murder of Seamus Ludlow was reported on by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights in 2006 and the Committee made many recommendations with regard to various aspects of the case which have been followed through. There are, however, no plans at present to establish a Commission of Investigation into the case.
It is a matter of regret that to date nobody has been made amenable for this crime. The Garda investigation remains open and any credible new information that is brought to attention will be pursued vigorously by the investigators. I have asked the Garda authorities for a report on the up-to-date position and I will communicate further with the Deputy when it is to hand.
