Richard Boyd Barrett blasts Garda refusal on Dublin Monaghan files
Richard Boyd Barrett spoke on 2025-02-18 about the Dublin Monaghan bombing, legacy issues and the Gardaí's refusal to release files. He argued that the Gardaí's withholding of files undermines Ireland's credibility in demanding Britain release files about alleged collusion and urged the Department of Justice to transfer material to ongoing inquiries.
The deputy said relatives of the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombing victims have been forced to seek relief in the High Court because the Gardaí and the Garda Commissioner will not hand over files. He said the Commissioner is refusing requests to give material to the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and to Operation Newham, and described the situation as gravely troubling.
Richard Boyd Barrett argued that Britain should release all files relating to the atrocities, but that Ireland has no credibility to make such demands if Irish authorities refuse to disclose their own documents. He referred to the Dublin Monaghan bombing as the single biggest atrocity in one day during the Troubles and said loyalist paramilitaries carried out the attacks, "almost certainly with the collusion of the British government."
He urged that any material in state possession should be provided to inquiries, recalling bespoke legislation passed in respect of Kingsmills and the judge's tribute to the Irish government in that context. He also called on the Minister for Justice to ensure information is supplied to the inquiry into the OMA bombing and to other relevant investigatory bodies.
Richard Boyd Barrett said he had watched Say Nothing on the Disney Channel and highlighted unresolved issues including bombings, murder and the kidnapping of Gene McConville. He pointed to the Old Bailey bombing episode, which injured and maimed British civilians, and warned that comprehensive legacy work is needed so future generations understand the use of violence for political ends. He also noted that the Canova report, which addresses collusion and wider campaigns of violence, has not been debated in the house.
He acknowledged that a preparatory meeting had taken place ahead of a March summit that will address a range of issues. He said the summit will involve several ministers and will cover security in Europe, Northern Ireland and legacy matters, and he noted that Deputy Daley had raised the energy market during the discussion.
Main accusation against the Gardaí
The deputy said relatives of the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombing victims have been forced to seek relief in the High Court because the Gardaí and the Garda Commissioner will not hand over files. He said the Commissioner is refusing requests to give material to the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and to Operation Newham, and described the situation as gravely troubling.
Demand for British files and collusion
Richard Boyd Barrett argued that Britain should release all files relating to the atrocities, but that Ireland has no credibility to make such demands if Irish authorities refuse to disclose their own documents. He referred to the Dublin Monaghan bombing as the single biggest atrocity in one day during the Troubles and said loyalist paramilitaries carried out the attacks, "almost certainly with the collusion of the British government."
Support for inquiries and legal precedents
He urged that any material in state possession should be provided to inquiries, recalling bespoke legislation passed in respect of Kingsmills and the judge's tribute to the Irish government in that context. He also called on the Minister for Justice to ensure information is supplied to the inquiry into the OMA bombing and to other relevant investigatory bodies.
Legacy, media references and specific cases
Richard Boyd Barrett said he had watched Say Nothing on the Disney Channel and highlighted unresolved issues including bombings, murder and the kidnapping of Gene McConville. He pointed to the Old Bailey bombing episode, which injured and maimed British civilians, and warned that comprehensive legacy work is needed so future generations understand the use of violence for political ends. He also noted that the Canova report, which addresses collusion and wider campaigns of violence, has not been debated in the house.
Parliamentary and summit context
He acknowledged that a preparatory meeting had taken place ahead of a March summit that will address a range of issues. He said the summit will involve several ministers and will cover security in Europe, Northern Ireland and legacy matters, and he noted that Deputy Daley had raised the energy market during the discussion.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Brendan Smith
Brendan Smith urges national therapy service for children in schools
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy: crisis in school places for children with disabilities
Brendan Smith
Brendan Smith demands repeal of British legacy legislation, access
Michael Collins
Michael Collins warns of 27-month autism assessment delays
Mattie McGrath
Mattie McGrath on suicides and mental health failings in Clonmel
Carol Nolan
Carol Nolan warns Offaly children missing vital dental checks
Transcript
T-shirt, the Dublin Monaghan bombing was the single biggest atrocity in one day in the entirety of the Troubles. 33 people killed in bombings that Loyola's paramilitaries admittedly carried out, almost certainly with the collusion of the British government. Now, you should ask for Britain to release all the files and information available about those atrocities, but of course you're in a very weak position to make such demands of Keir Starmer if the Irish authorities, and the Gardaí specifically, are, which they are, refuse to give the files in their possession about those bombings which the families of the victims of the bombings in 1974 have asked repeatedly for. Relatives of the victims of this atrocity have had to go to the High Court now to try and get the Gardaí down here, the Garda Commissioner, who is refusing to give the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and the Newham operation the files they have on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombings. Now, that stinks to high heaven. And it means we have no credibility asking the British government, which we should, to release the files they have on their outrageous collusion with the paramilitaries who carried out those massacres. But the Gardaí commissioner down here won't give, despite repeated requests, legal action by the relatives will not give Operation Newham the files they have on the bombings. Thank you, David. Please explain that and please do something about it. In terms of, and I would say more generally around the legacy issue, I'm watching, I've watched Say Nothing on the Disney Channel. And there's a whole lot of issues of bombings, murder, kidnapping of Gene McConville, where there's been no real attempt at closure, no real attempt at reconciliation, no attempt to say what happened was wrong. And it was, if you look at the episode on the bombing of the Old Bailey, 200 innocent British people injured and maimed. Like, what was all that about? So I think we do need to deal with legacy in the most comprehensive way. I think it's striking we haven't had a debate on Canova in this house. There's a comprehensive report. It deals with collusion between the state, the British state and loyalist paramilitaries in the murder of innocent people, and indeed of others. But it also deals with the campaign of the provisional IRA in terms of against its own people, as Canova describes it. But this house hasn't even had a debate on that. And that's something we should consider in terms of the comprehensive aspect of dealing with legacy. Because it does matter for future generations that these issues are properly teased out in terms of the use of violence for political ends. On Dublin Monaghan, I'm very clear that any material we have should be given to any inquiry. Just hear me out, please, a second. It has happened already, where bespoke legislation was passed in respect of Kingsmills, for example, and where the judge there did pay tribute to the Irish government. I'm clear, and I've been saying to the Minister for Justice and the Minister's predecessor, that in respect of the OMA bombing, again, there's an inquiry up and running. Thanks, Tisha. I do see that information should be provided by our government and our Department of Justice, in particular, to that. And just to make the point that on the Dublin Monaghan bombing, it was previous Fuerine Foil governments that led their way in terms of inquiries into the Dublin Monaghan bombing. And we know the outcome of the various reports in terms of access to the British files. on that. I don't have time for the other deputies. Deputy Daley raised the energy market and the energy question. I just want to say, the meeting was a preparatory meeting for the summit which is happening in March, which will be comprehensive, which will cover a wide range of issues which will involve a number of ministers. And also, obviously, the security situation in Europe was discussed, as well as Northern Ireland and legacy.