Dublin South West TD, and Chairperson of the Cross Party Group on Victims of the Conflict, Seán Crowe, has called for a new approach to be adopted by the Irish Government to increase the pressure on Britain for access to important documents to expose the truth behind the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of May 1974.

The Sinn Féin TD attended the annual wreath laying ceremony organised by Justice for the Forgotten on Dublin’s Talbot Street.

Speaking afterwards Deputy Crowe said:

“I have no doubts that these no-warning bombs were carried out by loyalists in collusion with British security services. The deaths of 34 people in the attacks represented the largest loss of life in any single day of the conflict.

“To this day, the British Government continues to deny any independent access to files which may contain important answers about these bombings, supposedly on national security grounds.  The real reason that they are denying access is that the unionist death squads responsible for these horrific attacks were armed, trained, directed and controlled by elements of the British security services.

“Last year, the Dáil unanimously passed a motion calling on the British Government to allow an independent judge examine the files it holds on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. It was the third such motion unanimously passed by the Dáil in 8 years. The British Government has continued to prevaricate and ignore all of these calls.

“The Irish Government needs to stand up for the victims and use international pressure to get justice for these families. 43 years after the bombings it’s clear that the old diplomatic approach hasn’t worked.

“I want to commend Justice for the Forgotten who have never given up on their quest for the truth. The Irish Government needs to adopt a new approach to seeking information surrounding these bombings and internationalise this issue. Britain’s involvement in these bombings needs to be raised at every opportunity and every relevant venue. It’s way past the time for a new approach.”

ENDS