49th anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan bombings

Posted by: JFF

 

The 49th anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings was commemorated on 16 and 17 May 2023. Mass was celebrated by Fr Tom Clowe in St. Agnes’ Church, Crumlin on 16 May. You can watch the Mass on https://www.crumlinparish.ie/watch-live/, Password: 49ANNIVERSARY.

 

Our wreath-laying ceremony was held on Wednesday, 17 May at the Memorial to the victims in Talbot Street, Dublin. Wreaths were laid by Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy; An Tánaiste Micheál Martin; Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council Seán Conlon. Wreaths were also laid on behalf of Justice for the Forgotten by Kevin O’Loughlin and on behalf of the Pat Finucane Centre by Paul O’Connor.

 

The annual oration was delivered this year by Journalist Vincent Browne.

 

Music was provided by Cormac Breatnach on whistle and Eoin Dillon on pipes, also by the Shillelagh Northside Ukulele Group and Sophia Garzetti on violin.

 

The prayers were led by Fr Tom Clowe.

 

Dr Rachael Hegarty read one of the poems from her collection, May Day 1974.

 

JFF wishes to express our sincere thanks to all involved, to the TDs, Senators, councillors and members of the public who attended in large numbers; to the Garda Traffic Unit, Store Street and to Dublin City Council for its care of the monument.

Belturbet Bombing - 28 DECEMBER 1972

Posted by: JFF

 

Together with the O'Reilly and Stanley families, we welcome whole-heartedly the decision of An Garda Síochána, Monaghan, to initiate a new investigation into the Belturbet bombing, which occurred on 28 December 1972.

 

Geraldine O'Reilly (15), Belturbet and Paddy Stanley (16), Clara, Co. Offaly, lost their lives in this no-warning loyalist bomb attack. We have supported the two families for almost 20 years and, at last, we have this very significant and positive development in the case.

 

We appeal for anyone with information to contact the Gardaí at the Incident Room, Ballyconnell Garda Station, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Tel. No 049 9525580; the Garda Confidential Line Free-Phone 1800 666111 or Crimestoppers 1800 250025.

48th anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan bombings

Posted by: JFF

 

Justice for the Forgotten was very pleased to be able to return to Talbot Street to, once again, hold our annual wreath-laying ceremony beside the memorial to the Dublin Monaghan bombings victims on Tuesday, 17 May.

 

Participants in the event included the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Alison Gilliland; An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, TD; Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Cllr Aidan Campbell and Senator Robbie Gallagher, representing Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Senator Mark Daly. They all laid wreaths in memory of the victims.

 

Wreaths were also laid on behalf of the Pat Finucane Centre by Alan Brecknell and on behalf of Justice for the Forgotten by Teresa Ryan.

 

Maureen O’Sullivan, former Independent TD for Dublin Central and a staunch supporter of our cause, delivered a powerful and inspiring oration which drew prolonged applause from the crowd.

 

As usual, Fr Tom Clowe led the prayers and blessed the wreaths, remembering in particular those family members we have lost in the past two years.

 

Dr Rachael Hegarty, poet laureate of Dublin 1, read one of the poems from her 2019 collection, May Day 1974 – In Memory of Maureen Shields.

 

Our faithful friends, Eoin Dillon and Cormac Breatnach, enhanced the proceedings with their wonderful music.

 

We wish to thank sincerely all the participants and also Store Street Gardaí and Dublin City Council for valuable assistance.

JOHN FRANCIS HAYES

Posted by: JFF

 

We remember John Francis Hayes today on the 46th anniversary of his death.

John, a 38-year-old married father of three, lost his life when a bomb exploded in a toilet in Dublin Airport on 29 November 1975. John was employed at the airport.

The UDA claimed responsibility for the no-warning attack.

47th anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan bombings

Posted by: JFF

 

The 47th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings will take place on Monday, 17th May 2021.

In the morning a wreath will be laid at the Talbot Street memorial in Dublin on behalf of Justice for the Forgotten by Kevin O’Loughlin. This will be recorded and posted on Facebook and Twitter.

A wreath will be laid at the Monaghan memorial on behalf of the people of Monaghan by Cllr Seamus Treanor, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Municipal District. This will likewise be recorded.

People are free to visit the memorials individually throughout the day to lay their floral tributes.

Video messages to mark the anniversary will be posted on social media from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Hazel Chu; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney and Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Cllr. Colm Carthy.

The poet, Rachael Hegarty, has kindly recorded three poems - for Josie Bradley (killed in Talbot St, Dublin); Marie Butler (killed in Parnell St, Dublin) and Thomas Croarkin (killed in Monaghan).

The anniversary Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Thomas Clowe in St. Agnes’ Church, Crumlin, Dublin at 1.00pm. You will be able to watch via the parish webcam - https://www.crumlinparish.ie/watch-live/

Throughout the day, we will post photographs, memories and poems on social media.

46th anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan bombings

Posted by: JFF

 

We marked the 46th anniversary of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings as best we could in the circumstances. Fr Tom Clowe, who usually celebrates Mass for the victims in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, celebrated the commemorative Mass in his own church of St. Agnes, Crumlin, on Saturday, 16 May. The families and survivors were able to view the Mass on the parish Webcam which was a great consolation to them.

 

Our former solicitor and good friend, Greg O'Neill, also arranged for Mass to be offered for the victims in the Church of the Assumption, Booterstown on Sunday, 17 May. The victims of the Dublin bombings of December 1972 / January 1973 and those of the Belturbet, Dundalk and Castleblayney bombings and the Miami Showband were also remembered in Fr. Clowe's Mass.

 

A wreath was laid on behalf of Justice for the Forgotten at the memorial in Talbot Street. Our good friend, Raymond, who lives in the city centre, obliged us and a few family members made it into town to lay their own floral tributes. Cllr Seán Conlon, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Municipal District Council, laid a wreath at the memorial in Church Square, Monaghan.

 

We engaged extensively on Facebook and Twitter over the two days - Saturday and Sunday, which resulted in an amazing response from friends, supporters and, indeed, strangers. We were given permission to post videos of the poet, Rachael Hegarty, reading three of her poems from May Day 1974 and Seán Murray, director of Unquiet Graves, posted a video of Fiona Ryan, with her permission, reading her poem, Stay Strong. Noel Hegarty and Andy Rowen also obliged us by posting their poems on Facebook also. Photographs of the shoes from the PFC exhibition, In their Footsteps, were also shown and in terms of the children who were killed, we included the extracts from Joe Duffy's and Freya McClements' book, Children of the Troubles.

Kevin O'Loughlin did an extensive interview with TG4 which was broadcast on TG4 News on Sunday evening, part of which was broadcast on An Nuacht on RTE1 on Sunday evening also. A report about the Boucher Investigation into the Glenanne series of cases was carried on the Irish Times website on Sunday and in the newspaper yesterday. Newstalk also carried a report on their news on Sunday.

Jon Boutcher recorded a special message for the Dublin/Monaghan families which is available on the Operation Kenova website

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney TD also issued a press statement on the anniversary of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings:

"Today we remember the thirty three people who were killed and the hundreds who were seriously injured in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974, which saw the largest loss of life on a single day in the Troubles.

While it is unfortunately not possible to gather at the memorial on Talbot Street in Dublin this year, we still stand together as a country in remembrance with the victims’ families and survivors.

The Government will continue to seek the full truth of these appalling attacks, and some measure of closure for those affected, in accordance with the three Motions passed unanimously by Dáil Éireann.

We stand in solidarity with the victims’ families and survivors and determined to continue the search for truth, justice and acknowledgment until it is finally secured."

 

45th anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan bombings

Posted by: JFF

 

The 45th anniversary of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings was commemorated on Friday, 17 May with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial, Talbot Street. Aidan Shields, whose mother, Maureen, was killed in Talbot Street, acted as Master of Ceremonies.

The names of the victims were read by Margaret Urwin and a minute's silence was observed to remember all the victims of the conflict.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Nial Ring; the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD and the Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Cllr. David Maxwell laid wreaths and spoke to the assembled crowd. Wreaths were also laid by Tony Browne, Chairman of the Pat Finucane Centre and Alan White, on behalf of Justice for the Forgotten.

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan said: 'I am honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the Government at this important and poignant commemoration. I am acutely conscious of the continued suffering of those injured and bereaved by these horrendous atrocities on that dark day in May 1974. The Government will continue to work with Justice for the Forgotten as we engage with the British Government to seek the implementation of the successive Dáil Motions relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I commend Justice for the Forgotten for their vital work '.
(Charlie Flanagan's full speech on the Dept. of Justice website).

 

The annual oration was delivered by Julieann Campbell, author, Blood Sunday relative and member of the Pat Finucane Centre Board. (Link to full oration).

 

Rachel Hegarty read a poem in memory of Anna O’Brien from her new collection: May Day 1974, which was launched in Trinity College later that evening. Noel Hegarty read his own poem, Justice for the Forgotten.

 

Music was provided by Cormac Breatnach, with songs composed and sung by Ciarán Warfield and Pat Savage.

The prayers were led by Fr Tom Clowe SDB. Rev Trevor Sargent was unable to be present due to an accident the previous day. The wreath-laying ceremony was followed by the annual commemorative Mass in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral which was celebrated by Fr Clowe. Family members participated in the Readings, Prayers of the Faithful and Offertory Gifts.

The Lord Mayor recalled that terrible day: 'I vividly remember that day in May 1974. We were playing football on the street in Ballybough and heard the Dublin bombs exploding. My mother was working in Olhausen's Butchers at the time and, although I was young, I recall the sense of anxiety and fear in the whole area as people waited for loved ones to come home. My Mam did - unfortunately many others did not.'

 

44th anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan bombings

Posted by: JFF

 

The 44th anniversary of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings was commemorated on Thursday, 17 May with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial, Talbot Street. Aidan Shields, whose mother, Maureen, was killed in Talbot Street, acted as Master of Ceremonies.

The names of the victims were read by Margaret Urwin and a minute’s silence was observed to remember all the victims of the conflict.

Wreaths were laid by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Árdmhéara Micheál MacDonncha; Mr. Charles Flanagan TD, Minister for Justice and Equality and Cllr Cathy Bennett, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council.

 

Michelle O’Brien, whose mother was killed in Talbot Street, laid the wreath on behalf of Justice for the Forgotten. A wreath on behalf of the Pat Finucane Centre was laid by Director, Paul O’Connor.

Susan McKay, journalist and author, gave the annual oration.

Survivor Noel Hegarty read his own poem.

 

The prayers were led by Fr Tom Clowe and music was provided by fiddler Anna Mary Donaghy and guitarist Billy Treacy.

Mass was celebrated afterwards by Fr Clowe in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral.

 

Legal challenge won over failure to investigate
Glenanne Gang murders

Posted by: JFF

 

The families of over 100 people, on both sides of the border in Ireland, murdered by the Ulster Volunteer Force, in collusion with state forces including the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), have welcomed today’s High Court ruling.

The Glenanne cases include the Dublin/Monaghan, Dundalk and Castleblayney bombings, as well as the murder of John Francis Green in the Republic of Ireland.

It is, for the first time, a legal acknowledgement that their relatives’ lives were taken by state forces duty and honour-bound to uphold the law and protect life.

The families, the Pat Finucane Centre/Justice for the Forgotten and their lawyers had given the court indisputable evidence (including ballistics and other forensic details) drawn from over 50 reports from the Historical Enquiries Team (HET); from the reports ordered by the Irish government, conducted under Judge Henry Barron, and catalogued in the book Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland.

 

It is troubling that the bereaved families themselves have been forced to litigate to uphold their basic right to an effective investigation, particularly so that such litigation arose from an investigation started by officers from England, but later discontinued by the PSNI.

The HET had promised the families a thematic report into what has become known as the "Glenanne Series" of murders. Once this report was 80% concluded, however, it was without good reason suppressed. It remains unfinished.

The families have yet to receive any acknowledgement, let alone apology, from the British government for its role in the murder of their loved-ones.

Let there be no confusion about this ruling.

Today, Mr Justice Treacy has concluded that the RUC and the largest regiment in the British Army at the time, the UDR, have a case to answer against credible charges of mass murder. He has confirmed what the families always knew to be true, that their loved ones were the victims of state-sponsored murder.

Now the court has ruled that the families had a legitimate expectation and right to an independent investigation, the ball is in the British government’s court to find an equally independent mechanism to conclude the work. We look forward to hearing the government’s proposals without any further obfuscation and delay.

(NOTE: The NI Police Ombudsman is currently investigating this series of murders and many of the bereaved families are suing the Chief Constable of the PSNI, the British Ministry of Defence and the Secretary of State.)

For further reference here is the summary judgements page for the court in Belfast, at the courts website. The summary in this case is listed under "Court finds Chief Constable breached article 2 by failing to produce HET Report into activities of Glenanne Gang", dated 28 July 2017. It is available in an MS Word document format as well as a PDF document.

For your convenience, the summary is also available here on our website as a pdf file.

43rd anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan bombings

Posted by: JFF

 

Denis Bradley, (pictured above), former Vice-Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and former Co-Chairman of the Consultative Group on the Past, delivered the annual oration to mark the 43rd anniversary of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings.

Brendan Carr, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Charles Flanagan TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade and PJ O’Hanlon, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, laid wreaths.

Minister Flanagan renewed his call on the British Government to release their undisclosed files to an independent judicial figure. He said: "I know that the pain of the families and of the survivors continues to endure. That pain is compounded by the absence – after more than four decades – of the full truth of what happened."

The prayers were led by Fr. Tom Clowe. Music and song was by Cormac Breatnach, Eoin Dillon and Ciarán Warfield. Survivor Noel Hegarty read his own poem.

Justice for the Forgotten wishes to thank all those who came along to support the families and survivors and to show their solidarity with them.

 

43rd anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan bombings:
Wednesday, 17th May 2017

Posted by: JFF

 

The 43rd anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings will take place on Wednesday, 17th May 2017. The Commemorative Mass in St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, will be at 11am. It will be followed by the Wreath-laying ceremony at the Talbot Street memorial in Dublin at 12.30pm. Further details later.

Justice for the Forgotten appeals to the people of Dublin to show their solidarity with the bereaved families and injured survivors by attending these commemorative ceremonies.

Civil legal case

Posted by: JFF

 

Families and survivors of the Dublin and Monaghan, Dundalk, Castleblayney, Belturbet and Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973 are taking civil cases against the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Defence and the Chief Constable of the PSNI. In the Dublin and Monaghan case, the British authorities have been ordered to lodge their defence by 24th April 2017.

For further reference here is a link to a related Irish Times article about the recent High Court date in Belfast in March 2017.

40th anniversary commemoration of Castleblayney bombing

Posted by: JFF

 

There was a wonderful gathering of the people of Castleblayney to mark the 40th anniversary of the death of Patrick Mone in a no-warning car bomb explosion in the town on 7th March 1976. A wreath-laying ceremony took place at the memorial dedicated to Patrick's memory. Included in the photograph above are Tommy Mone, nephew of the late Patrick, Anna Mone-McEneaney, widow of Patrick and Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, TD for Cavan-Monaghan.

PONI investigation ongoing

Posted by: JFF

 

The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is currently investigating the Dublin and Monaghan, Dundalk and Castleblayney bombngs, the Miami Showband murders and the John Francis Green murder as part of the Glenanne series of murders which were committed by permutations of the same gang, comprising members of the RUC, UDR and UVF in the 1970s. A number of the UVF members were agents of the British intelligence and RUC Special Branch. We expect the completion of Dr. Michael Maguire's investigation and the publishing of his report within the next two years.

Publication of A State in Denial

Posted by: JFF

 

Our co-ordinator Margaret Urwin's book, A State in Denial: British collaboration with loyalist paramilitaries, was published by Mercier Press on 7th October 2016. Launches have, so far, been held in Belfast, Dublin, Derry, Armagh, Newry, Galway, Shannon, Fermanagh and Monaghan.
Based on research by the Pat Finucane Centre and Justice for the Forgotten and using official British and Irish declassified documents from the 1970s and early 1980s, this book explores the tangled web of relationships between British Government ministers, senior civil servants, leading police and military officers and UDA and UVF paramilitaries. The documents provide evidence of more than a decade of official toleration, and at times encouragement, of loyalists, leading to horrifying results and prolonging the Northern Ireland conflict. The book is available in all good bookshops and on Amazon and Mercier Press websites.

Book review by Tom Griffin on Spinwatch here.

 

Unquiet Graves

Posted by: JFF

 

Filming in Dublin with Seán Murray for his forthcoming film, which is based on our colleague, Anne Cadwallader's book, Lethal Allies.
Included in the photograph with Seán and his colleagues are Fiona Ryan, whose mother, Maureen Shields, was killed in Talbot Street, Derek Byrne, who was seriously injured in Parnell Street and Margaret Urwin, co-ordinator of Justice for the Forgotten.