Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
163. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has written to or spoken with Secretary of State Villiers regarding an inquiry into the Ballymurphy murders in 1971; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6190/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 30 January 2014, the Taoiseach met with representatives of the Ballymurphy families in Dublin and told the families that, having considered the particular circumstances of their case, the Government supports their call for the appointment of an Independent Panel to examine all documents relating to the context, circumstances and aftermath of the deaths. He undertook to raise the matter directly with PM Cameron.
Prior to this my officials have engaged intensively on this issue and kept me continuously informed. They have met with representatives of the 11 people killed in Ballymurphy over a three day period in August 1971 on a number of occasions. They discussed the families' campaign for the establishment of an Independent Panel to examine all documents relating to the context, circumstances and aftermath of the deaths on a number of occasions with officials from the Northern Ireland Office, most recently on 29 and 30 January 2014. They also met with representatives of the families in Brussels on 28 January 2014, as part of a wider meeting with a number of victims' representatives from Ireland, North and South. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials attended a remembrance procession for those who died in Ballymurphy on 5 December 2013.
