Bombing inquiry supports collusion fears

by Democrat reporter

SUBMISSIONS TO the Irish government inquiry into Dublin and Monaghan bombings seen by journalists working for Ireland’s Sunday Business Post appear to confirm long-standing suspicions that members of the British security forces collaborated with loyalists in one of the worst atrocities of the Irish conflict.

According to a report published in the 19 January edition of the paper, submissions received by the inquiry reveal the involvement of two senior RUC officers and members of the British army, including one loyalist who was serving in the Ulster Defence Regiment.

The submissions also reveal details of the elaborate plan used to assemble the bombs at locations in and around Portadown and transport them to their eventual destinations south of the border.

Although many of those who were involved in the atrocities, including notorious loyalist killer Robin ‘the Jackal’ Jackson, are now dead, several members of the conspiracy are understood to be currently living at different locations in the six counties, England and Scotland.

Three bombs exploded in Dublin city centre on 17 May 1974, killing 26 people. Another seven were killed by the Monaghan explosion. More than 250 were injured in the attacks. Following years of pressure from campaigners seeking to establish the truth about the bombings, taoiseach Bertie Ahern appointed a senior Irish judge to head a new investigation in December 1999.

It is expected that the inquiry will deliver its final report to the Irish government later this year.