The bombing of Belturbet in December 1972 was a callous atrocity, which claimed the lives of two innocent victims. I am very familiar with the facts of this case and I wish to extend my most sincere sympathy to the families of the young people murdered on that day. Like the many other vicious and unjustifiable acts of violence committed during the Troubles, the bombing at Belturbet has inflicted untold suffering on the families of those who died and, indeed, all those affected.
The Garda Authorities have informed me that the bombing and the murders were thoroughly investigated by An Garda Síochána at the time. The Defence Forces provided expert assistance and the investigation involved close liaison with the authorities in Northern Ireland. Despite every avenue of enquiry being pursued at the time there was no evidence to bring perpetrators of this crime to justice. It remains a source of disappointment and frustration that no one has been brought to account for these murders.
With the passage of 45 years and in the absence of new evidence being forthcoming, I regret that we must be pragmatic about the prospects for a successful prosecution in this case. Nonetheless, the investigation into the bombing and the two murders has not been closed and An Garda Síochána will pursue any new evidence or information that is made available. They would, of course, work in close co-operation with the PSNI where that could advance the investigation.
I would call on anybody with any information that may be relevant to this case, even at this remove, to bring it to the attention of the Garda Authorities.
