Brendan Smith Demands Truth on Dublin-Monaghan and Belturbet Bombings
Deputy Brendan Smith urged action on legacy issues related to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the 1972 Belturbet bombings, calling for independent legal access to relevant documents. He described the British Government's failure to respond as "absolutely reprehensible" and asked the Taoiseach to prioritise these cases in talks with UK ministers.
Dublin and Monaghan bombings
The speech marked the approach of the 48th anniversary of the 17 May 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, in which 33 people were killed and hundreds injured. Deputy Smith noted that no one has been brought to justice and reminded the House that unanimous motions in 2008, 2011 and 2016 requested that the British Government grant an independent legal expert access to papers relevant to the attacks.
Belturbet bombings and University of Nottingham evidence
Deputy Smith reiterated long-held concerns about the 1972 Belturbet bombings, in which teenagers Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley were murdered. He referred to information placed on the House record from the University of Nottingham that he said showed state forces in Northern Ireland colluded in transporting the bomb from County Fermanagh into Belturbet.
Call for action from the Taoiseach
Deputy Smith pressed the Taoiseach to take these issues to the fore in upcoming engagements with the British Government and Mr Johnston, saying families deserve the truth and continue to grieve. He blamed both paramilitary perpetrators and some members of British state forces for the murders and urged decisive follow-through to assist victims' families.
Government response on legacy and the Storm and House agreement
The Taoiseach responded by acknowledging the House's unanimous position on appointing an independent person with legal access to documents and highlighted ongoing discussions on legacy matters. He said he has raised the issue with Prime Minister Johnson in bilateral meetings and in writing, expressed concern about the British Government's July command paper, warned that unilateral UK legislation would harm reconciliation and political stability in Northern Ireland, and called for the British Government to follow through on the Storm and House agreement agreed in 2014 between both governments and the parties.
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As you are aware, we are now approaching the 48th anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings of the 17th of May 1974. There were many dark days during the era known as the Troubles on our island, but that was the darkest day of all, when 33 innocent people were murdered and hundreds and hundreds badly injured. Sadly, nobody has been brought to justice for those horrific crimes. You will recall, Taoiseach, that we in this House in 2008, 2011 and 2016, we passed motions unanimously calling on the British Government to give an independent legal expert access to papers relevant to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Sadly, the British Government has not responded to the legitimate requests of a sovereign parliament. This inaction by the British Government is absolutely reprehensible. Taoiseach, you will also have heard me for many years express concerns about the belturbet bombings of 1972, when two young innocent teenagers, Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley, were murdered. Some time ago, I put on the record of this House information given to me by the University of Nottingham, that showed conclusively that state forces in Northern Ireland colluded in the transfer and the transport of that bomb from County Fermanagh into belturbet on that fatal night. Families have waited decades and decades to try to get to the truth. Taoiseach, in your next engagements with the British Government, with Mr Johnston, these issues must be top of the agenda. We have to try and ensure that the truth is God for these families who continue to suffer and grieve so much due to the actions of murderers. Murderers in paramilitary organisations and some murderers in British state forces as well. I appreciate the comments made by Deputy Smith in relation to the Dublin Monaghan bombings and the views of this House unanimously expressed by motion in terms of an independent person to be appointed to have independent legal access to the documents and the work at the University of Nottingham. And the broader issue of legacy, which I've raised consistently with both Prime Minister Johnson during our bilateral meetings, not just in March, but prior to that. And we've written to him expressing our deep concern at the approach set out in the British Government's July command paper and to emphasise that any decision to proceed with UK legislation on that basis would have negative consequences for reconciliation, for victims and for political stability in Northern Ireland. And that remains our position. We do not favour unilateralism in respect of legacy, and we do believe the British Government needs to respond to the views and concerns of victims primarily in relation to the legacy issue and to follow through essentially in the Storm and House agreement, which was agreed in 2014 between both governments and the parties. That's the way forward. It's a comprehensive framework. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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