The Government has re-iterated its commitment to finding out the truth around the Dublin Monaghan bombings. Today is the 49th anniversary of the atrocity, which killed 33 people and an unborn baby.
Three loyalist bombs exploded in Dublin City Centre that evening, followed by a fourth in Monaghan later. Monaghan County Councillor, Sean Conlon, has criticised the British Government's Legacy Bill which will give amnesty to those responsible for attacks during The Troubles.
"This will be nothing but devise and destructive. Not only for survivors seeking truth and accountability from the British authorities but also for holding those responsible. And, there would have been military operators - combatants - involved in the pay of the British Army and Intelligence services," Cllr Conlon said.
Meanwhile, speaking to Northern Sound earlier, Margaret Urwin from Justice for the Forgotten said that findings from the Denton report should be available next year, on the 50th anniversary.
She highlighted how a cloud hangs over the investigation as a result of the Legacy Bill which is currently before the British Parliament for ratification. Margaret added that if it's passed, there will be no more inquests, civil cases or investigations by the Police Ombudsman into the atrocities that were carried out in Northern Ireland.
"It now looks like this Bill will become law before Parliament's summer recess. It's very concerning but we are hopeful that because Jon Boutcher is so far advanced in his investigation, he will be allowed to complete it.
"We believe though that this Bill is deeply flawed and we have almost unanimous opposition to it. Unionists and Nationalists are united on this; all parties in Stormont oppose it; the Irish Government opposes it; the Labour Party in Britain, the US Government, the UN and the EU Council of Minister are all in opposition to this," added Margaret.
And, Cavan Senator, Joe O'Reilly raised the matter of truth during this morning's proceedings in Leinster House. He told Northern Sound that the truth about the Dublin Monaghan bombings was central to the terms and conditions of the Good Friday Agreement - now 25 years in the making.
Senator O'Reilly highlighted how the truth would provide relief to the families and victims, and contribute greatly to healing and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. "This has to be all part of the healing process; we need a holistic healing process that will lead us to a place where we can then have genuine interaction and ultimately arrive at a unity on the island.
"We can't arrive at that until we get rid of all these sores. Questions arise around the Dublin Monaghan bombings of collusion and we need to know what the truth is. And of course, we also need to know the truth around the Belturbet bombing as well," he added.
