Committee calls for North inquiry into 1974 bombings

The Oireachtas sub-committee on the Barron Report has recommended a public inquiry be set up in Northern Ireland into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974.

It said it is required and represents the best opportunity to be successful.

The committee said while it would be preferable to set up a tribunal in Ireland, it should instead be set up in Northern Ireland and/or Britain, as most of the information relating to the bombings was available outside the jurisdiction.

It said its decision was based on the fact that the perpetrators, information and witnesses were outside the State, and there would be legal and procedural difficulties arising from this.

The committee recommends the Irish and British governments should agree the terms of reference based upon the Weston Park proposals before any inquiry takes place.

They recommend such an inquiry should be conducted as follows:

• The judge conducting the investigation be of international stature.
  
  
• The investigation would have the power to direct witnesses for interview, the power to compel the delivery of documentation and to inspect premises.
  
  
• There should be time limits agreed for the commencement, duration and conclusion of the investigation.
  
  
• The judge conducting the investigation could recommend further action including whether a public inquiry in either jurisdiction should be held or not.
  
  
• The relevant government would be obliged to implement any recommendation within a definite time limit.

However, should the inquiry fail due to a lack of co-operation from the British authorities, the committee recommends the Government here considers taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

They also recommended anything that can be investigated in this jurisdiction be investigated, especially the adequacy of the original garda investigation into the bombings and to ascertain the whereabouts of missing garda files.

They said they were very concerned about the manner in which a number of documents relating to the bombings appear to have gone missing over the years.  Each Government Department should appoint a dedicated documents officer to keep an accurate record of all documents according to the committee.

The committee also said files relating to unsolved crimes should be periodically opened and reviewed.