British Government must hand over files on Dublin/Monaghan Bombings - Deputy Carthy

On the 51^st anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings, Sinn Féin spokesperson for Justice Matt Carthy has repeated his calls for the British Government to hand over all files in relation to the atrocity to Irish authorities.

Deputy Carthy called for all files handed to the Denton Review into the collusion between the British Government and the so called Glenanne Gang to be handed over to Irish authorities.  He said that Gardaí should also share any documents in their possession with the Denton Review.

He also called for the establishment of a Historical Investigations Unit that would look at issues related to collusion as well as the activities of the heavy gang.

Deputy Carthy said: “as we mark the 51^st anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings the continuing lack of cooperation from the British Government in handing over papers and files in relation to the atrocities despite repeated demands from the Oireachtas is absolutely unacceptable.

“We have seen in the case of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry how the Irish government reached a memorandum of understanding with that inquiry that included commitments on disclosure.  We have nothing of this kind from the British Government in relation to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.  They have continued to stonewall on the issue.”

The local TD says, “the British government must release all information related to this attack and all other perpetrated by the so called Glenanne gang, and in all instances where the British state or its agents colluding attacks and murders on this island North and South.  Likewise, the Gardaí should also immediately share any relevant documents in their possession to that review.

“The Denton review examining collusion by British Authorities with the Glenanne Gang is examining the Dublin Monaghan bombings as part of its work. The review was expected to be published by the end of April but a 6 month extension was given for the completion of work.  It is now due to be published at the end of October.”

The Cavan Monaghan TD says the information is there and it needs to be passed on. He says “Ian Livingstone, the former senior police officer overseeing the Denton review has said he has received access to never before seen top secret material.  He claims to have seen everything that exists up to and including top secret cabinet meetings of the British Government.  While we have no way of actually knowing if Mr Livingstone has seen ‘everything that exists’, what we do know is that disgracefully this information has not been given to Irish authorities – 51 years after the bombing of Dublin and Monaghan.

“I believe that it is now time to establish a Historical Investigations Unit to allow for independent police investigation into unresolved deaths and incidents of torture or ill treatment as proposed by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Committee on the Administration of Justice.  This would look not only at issues related to collusion such as the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings, the killing of John Francis Green, the killing of Martin Doherty and the attempted bombing of the Widow Scallan’s pub but also the actions of the Heavy Gang in the Sallins case, the Una Lynskey murder case and other cases.”