Oireachtas Committee to publish Barron findings

The families of victims of Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1972 and 1973 said they are not expecting any fresh hope from an Oireachtas…

The families of victims of Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1972 and 1973 said they are not expecting any fresh hope from an Oireachtas sub-committee report on the atrocities due today.

Nobody has ever been brought to justice for the three suspected Loyalist attacks, which killed nine people and injured 185.

The Oireachtas Justice committee will later today publish its final report on the findings of the Independent Commission of Inquiry, led by Mr Justice Henry Barron. It follows five days of televised public hearings from victims' families as well as from Justice Barron and the then Minister for Justice Mr Des O'Malley.

But the Justice for the Forgotten group, which represents victims' relatives of the bombings, said it doesn't expect any new answers to their questions on the crimes that they suspect were carried out with British collusion.

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Spokesperson Ms Margaret Unwin said: "Today's report is coming out very quickly. We don't think they have examined everything as thoroughly as we thought they might.

"There is no real sense of completion, therefore our expectations aren't very high."

The committee is chaired by Fianna Fail TD Mr Sean Ardagh, and includes Dail deputies Mr Joe Costello, Ms Maire Hoctor, Mr Finian McGrath, Mr Gerard Murphy, Mr Sean O Fearghail and Senator Tony Kett.

The Barron Report was given to the Government last year. It referred to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights which formed a new sub-committee to consider it. Earlier this month, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy agreed to appoint a liaison officer to work with the Justice for the Forgotten group.