26 April 2005:

DUBLIN & MONAGHAN BOMBINGS

The Government has announced the establishment of a Commission of Investigations Inquiry into matters relating to the Garda investigation into the Dublin & Monaghan Bombings and missing Garda and Department of Justice files. Justice for the Forgotten believes that the bereaved families and survivors must be involved in the Inquiry. However, serious concerns made known to the Government have not as yet been addressed:

• The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry do not contain any reference to the victims as persons who have rights and interests in the matters to be investigated.
  
  
• In the absence of any meeting with the Chairperson the families and their advisers are concerned that they may have no role in the Inquiry.
  
  
• In the absence of an undertaking by the State to meet the families' legal costs they find themselves at a distinct disadvantage compared to the organs of the State. For example, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and An Garda Síochána will be fully represented in the Inquiry process while those directly affected by the State's failures will be effectively excluded from the Inquiry.

In the circumstances Justice for the Forgotten can have no confidence in the process of investigation being embarked upon.

For further details please contact:

Bernadette McNally, Chairperson: 087-79 98 283

Margaret Urwin, Secretary: 087-22 37 338

Greg O'Neill, Solicitor: 087-23 93 175