24 January 2005:

PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE JOINT OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE

The Dublin bombings of 1 December 1972, 20 January 1973, the Belturbet bombing of 28 December 1972 and other murders carried out in the early 1970s

Public hearings by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights will begin tomorrow morning, Tuesday, 25 January 2005 in Committee Room 2, Leinster House 2000 at 9.30am.

These hearings will continue on Wednesday, 26 and Thursday, 27 January and on Tuesday 1 February, Wednesday, 2 February and Thursday 3 February. The Committee will examine in public the interim report published by the Independent Commission of Inquiry in November 2004.

During the first day’s hearings, an opening statement will be made by lawyers for Justice for the Forgotten, which will be followed by testimony from the bereaved families and survivors of the Dublin bombings of December 1972 and January 1973. On the second day the bereaved families of the Belturbet bombing will address the Committee.

The hearings are very important to the families and survivors who have waited 32 years for this opportunity.

The failure of the British Government to co-operate with the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin & Monaghan bombings and again, in these cases, where there was not even the pretence of co-operation, should be of grave concern to every Irish citizen.

For further details, please contact:

Margaret Urwin,
Campaign Secretary: (01) 85 54 300 / 087-22 37 338