Ahern sits on Dublin-Monaghan report

The Irish Prime Minister, An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has
received the long-awaited report by Justice Barron into the
1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings which killed 33 people, but
has refused to make it public.

Mr Ahern said this morning it would be discussed at Cabinet
and released at an unspecified later date.

At approximately 5.30 p.m. on May 17th, 1974, three car-bombs
exploded in Dublin city centre. The bombs were strategically
located and timed to kill as many civilians as possible.

In Parnell Street, Talbot Street and South Leinster Street
that Friday rush hour, 26 people died and more than 200 were
injured.

Ninety minutes later a car-bomb exploded on North Street,
Monaghan. Seven people died and more than 40 were injured. No
warnings were given. No charges were ever brought against the
perpetrators.

The Barron inquiry was set up by the Dublin government after
decades of pressure from relatives of the victims as evidence
mounted that the bombings had been carried with the
involvement of the British Crown forces.

Although the report was originally expected a year ago, the
work of the inquiry was hampered by a lack of co-operation
from the British authorities.

Relatives of people who died in the bombs urged the Government
to publish the findings without delay.

Ms Margaret Urwin, spokeswoman for victims' group Justice for
the Forgotten, said she hoped the details would be released
within a couple of weeks.

"We have been expecting the report for so long and are
relieved that it is coming to the Government at last," she
said.

"Now we are calling on the government to publish the findings
as quickly as possible. We don't want it to be held unduly by
the government."

Justice for the Forgotten is calling for a full public Inquiry
into the greatest single loss of life in the history of the
northern conflict.

"The concern that the bombings were linked to and covered up
by security forces in Northern Ireland is too serious and
grave a concern for any State not to subject it to the most
detailed and public scrutiny," it said in a statement.

Sinn Fein's Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain, also called for the
report to be published without delay.

He said: "There must be no delay in the publication of a
report which is long overdue, mainly because of the refusal of
the British authorities to fully cooperate with the work of
Justice Barron.

Inquests recently reopened into the deaths of those who died.
Both inquests were adjourned until all evidence has been
gathered.