Questions remain despite 1974 findings, say families

Many questions remain about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings despite the Dublin City Coroner's Court finding that the victims…

Many questions remain about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings despite the Dublin City Coroner's Court finding that the victims of the 1974 attack were unlawfully killed.

Ms Bernie McNally, speaking for the relatives after the jury's finding today, said the authorities on both sides of the border must now act.

"There are issues for another forum. Many questions have been answered and the loss of each life was solemnly acknowledged here.

"This issue now goes back to the Dáil and the Government finally for action. It has taken 30 long years and the Government must act now," the chairwoman of Justice For The Forgotten said.

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The group campaigned for many years for an inquiry to bring the bombers to account for the atrocity.

The Government reopened the inquest into the bombings just three weeks ago.

As the inquest was held in Dublin it had no power to demand witnesses from Northern Ireland or Britain give evidence.

After the verdict, Ms McNally said: "Throughout the inquest witnesses were willing to attend and give evidence of collusion. They were not called to give that evidence because of the legal scope of the inquest.

"The Northern Ireland authority went into hiding. They refused to attend the inquest even to confirm the basic facts about the bomb vehicles or the investigation they conducted in 1974," she added.

"I think it is outrageous that they didn't take part in this - we are in a time of peace and reconciliation now.

"It is Bertie Ahern`s place to put pressure on them to take part."

As the verdict was returned on the 34 victims, the coroner said the jury found that Colette Doherty's unborn baby was also unlawfully killed.

Dr Farrell said the baby was unable to sustain life due to the death of the mother from the car bomb.

The car bomb on Dublin's Parnell Street, which killed 11 people, was planted in a green Hillman Avenger.

The Talbot Street device, which killed 14, was planted in a blue Ford Escort, and the South Leinster Street bomb was carried in a blue Austin Maxi.

All three cars, plus the one left in Monaghan, were stolen from Northern Ireland that day and driven to Dublin.

Dr Farrell said it was a mass killing of international importance, and as well as the 34 killed another 300 people were injured.

"There was an unconscionable delay completing the inquest," Dr Farrell said, as he apologised to the families for the 30-year-wait for the inquest verdict.

He thanked the jury, the Justice For the Forgotten solicitor Mr Greg O'Neill and counsel representing the families for their efforts in seeking justice.

"Your quest for the truth in relation to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings has reached heroic proportions," he told the families.