A former Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Barron, has been appointed by the Government as sole member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin-Monaghan and Dundalk bombings. He succeeds Mr Justice Hamilton who resigned yesterday on health grounds.
Mr Justice Barron retired from the Supreme Court in May. He had been a High Court judge since 1982. A member of the Jewish community, he was educated at Castlepark School, St Columba's College and Trinity College, from where he graduated with first class honours in 1950.
His appointment was warmly welcomed by Mr Greg O'Neill, solicitor for the Justice for the Forgotten group, which represents the families of the victims of the bombings. The Independent Commission has been working since early this year collecting testimony, examining documents and interviewing people relating to the bombings. It is to prepare a report for the Cabinet, which will then go to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice Equality and Women's Rights, which will have a public hearing.
There will be a debate on whether the material disclosed raises issues which need to be aired in a public inquiry. The work of the Independent Commission is confidential, but it is understood that new facts have been discovered which are not based on hearsay or journalistic reports.
Mr Justice Barron will have to read and assess all this material. It will be up to him to decide whether it will be necessary to re-interview some of those interviewed by Mr Justice Hamilton.