In 1996 relatives of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, Justice for the Forgotten, launched a campaign for a public inquiry.
In December 1999, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern appointed Mr Justice Liam Hamilton to undertake a thorough examination of the bombings, in a private inquiry.
In October 2000, Mr Justice Henry Barron was appointed to succeed Mr Justice Hamilton. Mr Justice Barron found that the bombers may have had assistance from members of the security forces but this could not be proved on the information available.
The Government established a further Commission of Investigation: Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974 in May 2005 with Patrick MacEntee SC (right) as the sole commission member.
Matters to be investigated, in private, included: 1. Why was the Garda investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings wound down in 1974? 2. Why did the Garda not follow-up on particular "leads" involving a white van allegedly parked near the scene of one of the bombings and information concerning certain individuals allegedly sighted in Dublin at the time? 3. What documentation in relation to the bombings had gone missing and why, and could this documentation now be located?
Widely regarded as one of the State's most brilliant criminal lawyers, Mr MacEntee is famous for his stylish courtroom performances throughout a lengthy career. The inquiry took almost two years to complete and Mr MacEntee was granted nine extensions during the course of his investigation. His final report was handed in to the Government on March 12th this year.