The Argus, 22 February 2006:

Family give up hope of getting justice

The family of murdered forestry worker Seamus Ludlow have given up hope that his killers will ever be brought to justice, it emerged at the final day of the hearing of the Joint Oireachtas Committee into the Barron Report on his killing.

"We reluctantly must accept the prospects of ever bringing a prosecution, let alone a successful one, are extremely remote," said barrister Eamon Coffey, instructed by solicitor James McGuill.

While the four suspects named in the Barron Report were arrested in the North in 1998 they were never charged as the DPP felt there was insufficient evidence to prosecute them.

Mr Coffey said the family wanted a full public inquiry to find out why the Gardai had never been given permission to travel across the border to interview the suspects.

"Otherwise the Ludlow family and the wider public are left with the grounds of believing that this state was an accessory after the fact in the murder of Seamus Ludlow and being complicit in his murder," he said.

The Justice committee, which was holding the final of its seven hearings into Judge Henry Barron's report on the murder, must consider whether to recommend a full public inquiry in its report next month.

Mr Coffey said the Ludlow family had been steadfast in their pursuit of the truth for 30 years, which has seen them endure two inquests into their brother's death, two Garda internal investigations and Judge Barron's report.

He said they were entitled to consistency from the Irish Government, which supported campaigns for public inquiries into Bloody Sunday and the killing of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

The family want a speedy public inquiry to answer four key questions.

• Was the initial Garda investigation in 1976 adequate?

• Why was the information from the RUC on the four suspects not followed up?

• Why was evidence at the scene not preserved?

• Was the decision taken not to pursue the murder of Seamus Ludlow and if so, who took it?

In his report, Judge Barron said it was most probable the decision not to carry out the interviews with the Northern Ireland-based suspects was made by former Garda Commissioner Laurence Wren, then head of the Garda C3 security section.

The family are opposed to a Commission of Inquiry on the grounds that it would carry out its investigation in private, would not make a determination of facts and would not allow them to cross-examine witnesses.

"The family have a right to cross-examine those who consistently misled them to the identity of the killers and in fact branded Seamus Ludlow an (IRA) informer," said their senior counsel Deirdre Murphy.

Speaking to the Argus yesterday (Tuesday), Jimmy Sharkey, a nephew of Seamus Ludlow, said that while some new evidence had emerged at the hearing, the family still wanted a Public Inquiry so that they can have an imput into the process.

"Certain things did come out at the hearings which the family didn't know about but there are still questions that the family have wanted answers for the past thirty years and time is not on the side of Seamus's brother and sisters."

He felt that a Public Inquiry would have the power to compel witnesses, including Gardai, to give evidence.

"I believe there are Gardai out there who would be willing to give evidence before such an inquiry and who would welcome the opportunity to clear the air."

---

I Top I