Barron to issue further reports

Relatives and victims of the 1974 Dublin bombings at the inquest by the Dublin Coroner, which was finally reopened last week and is ongoing

Justice Henry Barron is to issue further reports on bombings and shootings in which collusion by British crown forces is suspected. This was announced by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in answer to a Dáil question from Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

In the Dáil on Tuesday, Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach about the further reports due to be issued by Judge Barron, following on from his report on the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

"Will he confirm that the matters relating to the 1972-'73 Dublin bombings in which George Bradshaw, Thomas Duffy and Thomas Douglas were killed; the Belturbet bombing in 1972 which killed two teenagers, Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley; the bombing at Dublin Airport in 1975 in which John Hayes died; the Dundalk bombing in 1975 in which Hugh Watters and Jack Rooney died; and the Castleblayney bombing of 1976 which took the life of Patrick Mone and the murder of Séamus Ludlow, are being addressed?

"Recalling that Mr Justice Barron included in an attachment to his first report on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings a report on the murder of John Francis Green, is further action being considered on that report? Will further attention be drawn to it? What of Mr Justice Barron's report on each of the other cases instanced? Where, in the Taoiseach's view, will all that lead?"

The Taoiseach replied that Judge Barron's second report deals with events which occurred before 17 May 1974. It includes the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973 and the Clones, Belturbet and Pettigo bombings of 28 December 1972. "They are all dealt with in one report. The drafting of that report is well advanced. Mr Justice Barron will then report on the case of Séamus Ludlow. He will report on the Dundalk bombings of 1975 and will look at a number of other bombings which took place after May 1974, including the Castleblayney bombing. Mr Justice Barron was asked to do these reports at a much later date. I do not know when this third report will be made but I presume it will be a considerable time from now," stated the Taoiseach.