Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Blair given final chance
The Government will give British Prime Minister Tony Blair a final chance to aid an inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings or else take the matter to European courts.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he may take a case to the European Court of Human Rights if Mr Blair does not hand over British government files on the 1974 atrocities.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil today that he wrote to Mr Blair before the UK general election and advised him of his position on the matter. He said he was due to meet him this month.
"It’s a new government and I suppose we should give it one more effort," Mr Ahern told TDs in Dublin.
“If we do not go anywhere, we should look at the European Court of Human Rights."
A total of 34 people died when no-warning bombs exploded in Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974.
Mr Ahern added: "I will resume the campaign with the new Secretary of State Peter Hain – the fifth, on the same issues again – and with the Prime Minister Blair and I hope to do that sometime this month."
Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte said that victims’ families deserved answers on the issue after more than 30 years of waiting.
I welcome Ahern's tough stance on this vital issue. Let's hope it's not simply hot air. As the links on my sidebar will show, the Irish civilians that were murdered in those dreadful bombings were murdered due to loyalist paramilitaries who were working for British government intelligence. MI5 had a direct role in political affairs in the Irish Republic and it's high time this was made common knowledge. Tony Blair should aid this inquiry.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he may take a case to the European Court of Human Rights if Mr Blair does not hand over British government files on the 1974 atrocities.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil today that he wrote to Mr Blair before the UK general election and advised him of his position on the matter. He said he was due to meet him this month.
"It’s a new government and I suppose we should give it one more effort," Mr Ahern told TDs in Dublin.
“If we do not go anywhere, we should look at the European Court of Human Rights."
A total of 34 people died when no-warning bombs exploded in Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974.
Mr Ahern added: "I will resume the campaign with the new Secretary of State Peter Hain – the fifth, on the same issues again – and with the Prime Minister Blair and I hope to do that sometime this month."
Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte said that victims’ families deserved answers on the issue after more than 30 years of waiting.
I welcome Ahern's tough stance on this vital issue. Let's hope it's not simply hot air. As the links on my sidebar will show, the Irish civilians that were murdered in those dreadful bombings were murdered due to loyalist paramilitaries who were working for British government intelligence. MI5 had a direct role in political affairs in the Irish Republic and it's high time this was made common knowledge. Tony Blair should aid this inquiry.
# posted by United Irelander @ 7:43 PM 
© 2008 United Irelander.
