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Latest: Revised: September 12, 2005.
11
September 2005: See today's statement from
Mr Bernard Moffatt, Secretary General of the Celtic League, an organisation that
has given the Ludlow family valuable support for a long time now:
LUDLOW
MURDER - PRESSURE FOR BRITISH TO REOPEN THE CASE
Ireland's
Foreign Minister should have no difficulty in his avowed
intent to persuade the British government that they should act over
the murder of Co. Louth forestry worker, Seamus Ludlow, almost thirty
years ago.
In November 2000 the Northern Ireland Office, Security Policy and
Operations Division, assured the Celtic League that it would be keen
to pursue any information pertaining to the killing. . .
To
view the full statement from the Celtic League use this link.>>>>
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9
September 2005: See The Argus, a local Dundalk newspaper, for
these two reports of this week's fresh inquest for Seamus Ludlow:
Identity
of Ludlow's killer known to Gardai
Unlawful
Killing
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9
September 2005, See RTE News online: Ahern
to raise Ludlow murder with Hain.
The
Minister for Foreign Affairs, and TD for Louth, Dermot Ahern, has said
he will raise the sectarian murder of Seamus Ludlow by loyalists with
the British Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain.
The
Ludlow family had asked the minister to raise the issue to find out
why no one was ever prosecuted for the murder, despite the fact that
two men made statements in 1998, admitting their role in this foul
murder.
However,
the Director of Public Prosecutions in Belfast decided not to press
charges. This extraordinary failure to prosecute Seamus Ludlow's
alleged killers has never been explained.
No
doubt the Ludlow family have many questions for the British
authorities regarding their role in protecting the UDR/Red Hand
Commando killers of Seamus Ludlow.
See
also: 9 September 2005,
www.online.ie News: Ahern
To Raise
Ludlow
Murder With Hain
10
September 2005, The Irish News: Minister
to raise 1976 murder with secretary
10
September 2005, The Irish Examiner: Ahern
to raise issue of Ludlow murder
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8
September 2005: See this report from today's edition of The
Irish News, It has certainly been a busy and eventful
week for the Ludlow family: O'Loan
had concerns over Ludlow probe
Police
Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan had concerns over the investigation into the
loyalist murder of Co Louth man Seamus Ludlow, it has emerged.
Although Mrs O'Loan could not mount a probe as it was outside her
jurisdiction, she examined both RUC files and Garda material relating
to the killing of the forestry worker almost 30 years ago. . .
For
the full report use this link.>>>>
See
also: The Irish Sun: Tell
us what you know about Seamus's murder for a report of Joe
Costello TD's (Irish Labour Party) welcome call on Taoiseach
Brertie Ahern to publish the Barron Report on the murder of Seamus
Ludlow as soon as possible because of the disturbing disclosures that
came from this week's second inquest at Dundalk courthouse.
The
private Barron Report has been with the Irish government since October
2004, and still there is no known date for its publication.
See
also:
The
Irish Sunday Mirror, 11 September 2005: Publish
or be damned
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7
September 2005: See the weekly Dundalk
Democrat newspaper's detailed report of the two-day fresh
inquest into the death of Seamus Ludlow. This
report features detailed accounts of evidence given by former state
pathologist Professor John
Harbison, who carried out the post mortem examination in 1976.
Also
featured are reports of evidence given by former detectives John
Courtney, who collected a file from the RUC in February 1979
which named the four loyalist suspects in Seamus Ludlow's murder, and Ted Murphy,
the man who conducted the most recent investigation in 1998.
See
also: The Irish News, 7 September 2005: 'Gardai
evidence strengthens case for public inquiry'
The
Irish Independent, 7 September 2005: Ludlow
family renew plea for murder inquiry
The
Irish Times, 7 September 2005: Inquest
told of statements admitting part in killing
Daily
Ireland, 7 September 2005: Call
for public inquiry
The
Belfast Telegraph, 7 September 2005: Probe
call into 1976 murder
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7
September 2005: The following report appeared today on the UTV News
online:
|
WEDNESDAY
07/09/2005 12:49:19
|
| |
Taoiseach
urged to publish Ludlow murder report
The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is being called on to publish the
report on the investigation into the 1976 murder of Seamus Ludlow. . .
Labour spokesperson for Justice Joe Costello says the investigations
at the time raise serious questions about the administration of
justice on both sides of the border.
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6
September 2005: A
jury at Dundalk courthouse today returned a verdict of unlawful
killing, in accordance with the wishes of the Ludlow family, at the
end of the second inquest into the murder of Seamus Ludlow. The
inquest lasted two days.
Speaking
afterwards to the press and on national RTE television News bulletins,
the Ludlow family reiterated their demand for a public inquiry into
the murder, saying the inquest had raised many unanswered questions.
There
was nothing at all revealed from the private Murphy report on the
original murder investigation, much to the dismay of the Ludlow
family. The inquest had been delayed for more than three years because
of the refusal of the gardai to hand this and other documentation over
to the coroner Ronan Maguire.
When
the Murphy report was eventually handed over to the coroner it was on
the basis that it remained confidential. The coroner would be entitled
to submit sections of the report in the form of submissions to the
inquest at his discretion, though this did not happen. Thus, many of
the answers the Ludlow family hoped this report would provide remain
hidden away.
It
was also confirmed that two of the fatal bullets used in the killing
of Seamus Ludlow are indeed missing. No trace of them has been found
and no explanation for their disappearance has been offered. In a
revelation further disquieting for the Ludlow family it was also
revealed that Seamus Ludlow's clothing, which might still be useful
for forensic and evidential purposes, have also disappeared. Again, no
explanation was given!
These
men had been identified to gardaí 19 years earlier as the killers of Seamus
Ludlow, but when the information was passed on to Garda Headquarters,
nothing happened.
In
1996, then Chief Superintendent Ted Murphy was asked by the Garda
Commissioner to re-examine the case surrounding the murder of Seamus
Ludlow.
Seamus
Ludlow was murdered by a gang of four loyalists, now known to be
members of the British Army UDR and the Red Hand Commando murder gang,
just outside Dundalk on 2 May 1976. An inquest was held shortly
afterwards, without the Ludlow family being informed or present, but
the Attorney General in 2002 directed a new inquest be held as a
result of new information.
Yesterday
former Chief Superintendent John Courtney told the inquest that he was
given the names and address of four men by the RUC in 1979 whom he
believed had carried out the murder.
He
passed that on to Garda Headquarters but despite his request for
authority to proceed, it was not forthcoming.
Former
Chief Supt Murphy today said that in 1996 he contacted the RUC and the
informant who had given information about the four killers.
The
four loyalists were arrested and taken here to Castlereagh RUC Station
for questioning. Two of them, he said, provided independent and
accurate details about the murder of Seamus Ludlow.
They
described how the shooting took place in their car and how they left
the body. However, no charges were ever brought against the men.
The
conclusion of the fresh inquest was widely reported on RTE Television
and Radio News bulletins, as well as the local LMFM Radio. It was also
given good coverage on the national press.
See
also: RTE News online, 6
September 2005 22:08
,
Unlawful
killing verdict at Ludlow inquest
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5
September 2005: Today was an important milestone for the Ludlow family
with the opening, after a three year delay, of a fresh inquest into
the death of Seamus Ludlow.
The
inquest was attended throughout by a large Ludlow family group,
including the late Seamus Ludlow's only surviving brother Kevin, and
his three widowed sisters; Kathleen Donegan, Eileen Fox, and Nan
Sharkey. Many nephews and nieces also attended.
Detailed
evidence was given by Professor John Harbison, retired Irish State
Pathologist, who carried out the post mortem and gave evidence to the
flawed "inquest" of 19 August 1976.
Further
evidence was given by retired Garda Chief Superintendent John
Courtney, who was involved in the initial murder investigation in May
1976. Mr Courtney testified, under questioning by the Ludlow family's
legal representative, that he received a file from the RUC in February
1979, that the file identified four loyalists as the suspected
murderers of Seamus Ludlow. He testified that he had eliminated any
suspicions of IRA involvement within a few months, even though the
Ludlow family was still being assured many years later by Dundalk
gardai that the IRA was responsible.
As
for the RUC file, Mr Courtney stated that he had passed it to his
superiors in Dublin Castle, and upon his further inquiries as to
whether he had the authority to have the known suspects questioned, he
was informed that no further action would be taken. He could offer no
explanation for this!
See:
Celtic
League statement: NEW INQUEST INTO
LUDLOW MURDER OPENS
Ulster
Television online report: Inquest
into death of Seamus Ludlow
RTE
News online report: Second
inquest into Louth murder 05 September 2005 17:19
LUDLOW
TO OPEN AGAIN
An
inquest is due to open shortly into the death of Seamus Ludlow
– the North Louth man shot dead by loyalists almost 30 years
ago. The 47 year old’s body was found dumped in a laneway near
his home at Thistle Cross in May 1976. His family believe the
murder was covered up by the gardai and the State. Today’s
inquest is being held, at the request of the Attorney General as
the Ludlows weren’t given enough notice of the original
hearing. Surely there should be an
investigation into the Garda cover up of the murder. The Gardai
in the Dundalk area for the last 20-30 years would make the
Gardai in Donegal look like boy scouts.
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1
September 2005: The following was featured on the Main Local News
Headlines on LMFM Radio:
Family
demand explanation for reports delay
The
family of a North Louth man murdered by Loyalists almost 30 years ago
are demanding an explanation for the delay in publishing a report into
his killing. A new inquest into the shooting dead of Seamus Ludlow in
May 1976 is being held on Monday next. The Government have had a copy of
the Barron Report into
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6
July 2005: In a follow-up The
El Paso Times site briefly names three of the Dundalk gardai
who have been accused of harrassing members of the grieving Ludlow
family in the aftermath of the vile sectarian murder of Seamus Ludlow.
Follow the link given above. I Top
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6
July 2005: The local Dundalk Democrat newspaper features a
front page report titled Website
names the Ludlow four about the publication of four
loyalist suspects' names on the El Paso Times web site. The
Democrat quotes an unnamed member of the Ludlow family who reacts to
the naming of the four suspects:
Seamus
Ludlow's nephew said the four names published on the website were
not a surprise to him or any of his family.
"These
names have been cropping up for years. The names are nothing new to
us."
Preliminary
hearings into a second inquest on Seamus Ludlow's death have been
held and the inquest is expected to get under way on September 5.
County
Coroner Ronan Maguire has said that the publication of the names on
the website will have no effect on the inquest
Use
the link above to read the full Dundalk Democrat report. I Top
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3
July 2005: In a fresh and surprising development, a Dundalk web site, The
El Paso Times, not connected to the Ludlow family,
published a report naming the four suspects who were arrested in 1998
for questioning about the murder of Seamus Ludlow. Though
two of the suspects have identified themselves previously in the
press, the Ludlow family has not sought to name them all publicly. Two
of the suspects had never been named, though their names were also
known to the Ludlow family since 1998. The
El Paso Times' report follows: EXCLUSIVE
MURDERERS
NAMED The
El Paso Times has been given the full names of the murderers of
Dundalk man Seamus Ludlow. Two of the murderers were serving British
soldiers at the time of the murder. It is believed that the original
target of the gang was a well known republican who was living in Bay
Estate at the time. For some unknown reason the gang never reached
their original target. They picked up Seamus Ludlow who was thumbing a
lift at the time on the Newry rd near the Lisdoo. Because the Gardai
and Irish governments didnt want to cause a political storm with their
masters the British the Gardai put out locally that the local IRA were
behind the murder. The Dundalk Gardai even went as far as arresting
members of the Ludlow family and questioning members of the family
about the murder. Within weeks of the murder the RUC passed on details
of the real murderers to the Gardai and the Irish government but they
chose to ignore the information and closed the investigation. The
family have tirelessly campaigned for a full public enquiry because of
the disgraceful way the entire investigation was handled. This case is
not unlike the Mc Brearty case in Donegal, involving local Garda
corruption and cover-ups
The
El Paso Times report is published here, without the final sentence
giving the suspects' names. These, of course, can be viewed on The El
Paso Times' site by following the link given here >>>>.
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17
June 2005: Important new contact information received from our friends
at The Pat Finucane Centre, Derry:
New
web address and e-mail
As
of today our new website address is www.patfinucanecentre.org
and our new e-mail address will be [email protected]
The old emails will function until the end of June but it is
advisable to begin replacing now
The
Ludlow family appreciates the valued support it has received from the
Pat Finucane Centre. The Centre's website features detailed
information about the murder of Seamus Ludlow as well as many other
victims of British state killings in Ireland.
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13
June 2005: The Louth Coroner Ronan Maguire received written
submissions from legal representatives for the Garda Commissioner and
the Ludlow family regarding the
scope of the matters which the inquest into the death of Seamus Ludlow
will be able to inquire into.
The
coroner also confirmed that 5 September 2005 will be the date on which
he will begin the fresh inquest into the death of Seamus Ludlow. This
will be more than three full years since the inquest had been ordered
by the attorney general.
While
the Garda who had dealt with the forensic investigations at the time of Seamus
Ludlow's murder in 1976 was now dead, the coroner had received a report from the Garda
ballistic team. Mr. Maguire undertook to supply a copy of that report to Mr.
James MacGuill, solicitor, who acts for the Ludlow family.
See
The Argus (Dundalk), 17 June 2005: Ludlow
inquest adjourned to autumn >>>>
See
also: The Dundalk
Democrat, 15 June 2005: Coroner receives ballistics report on Ludlow after
29-year wait >>>>
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31
May 2005: Jane Winter, Director of London-based BRITISH
IRISH Rights Watch (BIRW), in her monthly
report, made the following comment regarding the recent
preliminary hearing for an inquest intro the death of Seamus Ludlow.
inquest
into the death of seamus ludlow
A
preliminary hearing into the second inquest into the murder in 1976 of
Seamus Ludlow in Dundalk, allegedly by loyalists some of whom were
serving soldiers, was held on 24th May. The full
inquest is due to be held on 5th September 2005. BIRW
is hoping to send an independent observer to the hearing.
There
can be no doubt that the Ludlow family would be very honoured to have
Jane or any other representative of BIRW present at the inquest in
September. The Ludlow family has been grateful for Jane's valuable
support and advice for several years now.
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24 May
2005: At last the Ludlow family's near thirty-year-long wait for truth
nears an end with a date being set for the full inquest into the
death of Seamus Ludlow.
Louth
Coroner Ronan Maguire set 5 September 2005 at a preliminary hearing in
Dundalk courthouse. it is expected to last for a number of days.
The
Coroner read a letter from the Attorney General confirming the Ludlow
family's grave objections to the original sham inquest of August 1976.
They had been denied participation in that inquest and important
evidence had not been available or presented at the inquest. Nor had
the gardai called for an adjournment so that they could continue with
their investigation. Of course the Ludlow family was not aware at that
time that the murder investigation had been effectively abandoned
after only 19 days!
In one
surprising development, the lawyer for the Garda Commissioner,
informed the inquest that the Assistant Commissioner is willing to be
a liaison officer for the Ludlow family. It is regrettable that the
gardai have been obstructive in their dealings with the Ludlow family
throughout this long struggle for justice. Liaison was never on offer!
See
The
Argus
(
Dundalk
), 27 May 2005:
Date
set for second inquest into Seamus Ludlow murder
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23 May
2005: The following kind message was received from Jane Winter,
Director of British Irish Righs Watch (BIRW), London. Jane,
unfortunately, will not be able to attend the preliminary hearing for
Seamus Ludlow's inquest, which opens in Dundalk, 24 May:
I’m so sorry I can’t be there tomorrow, owing to a prior
commitment to attend the opening of the Robert Hamill Inquiry.
However, James has promised to keep me informed.
I hope that it goes well. I know it will be a difficult day for
you all, but I hope it marks the beginning of obtaining justice for
Seamus.
With best regards,
Jane
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23
May 2005: The following was issued by the Pat Finucane Centre, Derry
City:
A
preliminary hearing in advance of a full inquest into the murder of
Seamus Ludlow opens in the Dundalk Courthouse on Tuesday.
Seamus Ludlow was abducted and killed by loyalists in May of
1976.
One of his attackers is believed to have been a MI5 or RUC
Special Branch agent. No one has ever been charged with his murder.
The family alleges “massive wrongdoing” by both Irish and
British authorities.
An
inquiry into the murder of Robert Hamill will begin Tuesday at the
Craigavon Courthouse.
For eight years the family has struggled to get justice for
Robert, who was attacked by a mob and beaten to death in front of
the RUC. in April of 1997. No
one has been convicted of the killing.
Murder charges against six men were withdrawn through lack of
evidence and charges against a police officer for obstructing
justice were controversially withdrawn.
Further
information is available on the Pat Finucane Centre website at www.serve.com/pfc
See
also www.nuzhound.com for
recent news articles.
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22
May 2005: See today's issue of The Sunday Tribune for Northern
Editor Suzanne Breen's report headlined:
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10
May 2005: At last, the announcement that the Ludlow family has been
waiting for now almost three years! The local LMFM Radio station
revealed the date for a preliminary hearing for a fresh inquest into
the death of Seamus Ludlow. LMFM reports:
The
first concrete steps have been taken towards holding a new inquest
into the death of Seamus Ludlow - the
North Louth
man murdered by loyalists 29 years ago. It's claimed that the
47-year-old forestry worker was shot dead by members of the Red Hand
Commandoes. The preliminary hearing will take place in
Dundalk
on Monday week 23rd May.
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08 May 2005 See
the report Coroner
to re-examine 1976 murder by Barry O'Kelly in The
Sunday Business Post:
The Co Louth coroner, Ronan Maguire,
confirmed this weekend that he would hold a fresh inquest into the
controversial killing following a campaign by
Ludlow
's family.
“I
have been requested to do so by the Attorney General. There will be a
preliminary hearing at the end of the month, in advance of a full
inquest,” the coroner told The Sunday Business Post.
The victim's family believes that
Ludlow
died at the hands of two members of the British Army's Ulster Defence
Regiment (UDR) and the loyalist Red Hand Commandos in Co Down. The
family's campaign, led by Kevin Ludlow, the only surviving brother of
Seamus, and nephews Jimmy Sharkey and Michael Donegan, are seeking a
public inquiry into his death and the alleged cover-up afterwards.
“At first, the Garda claimed to the family that Seamus had been
murdered by the IRA because he was an informer,” said Jimmy Sharkey
last week.
“That was the line they put out. It is now known that both the Garda
and the RUC were aware that the killers were, in fact, loyalists.
“They knew that the killers included at least twolocally recruited
members of the British Army.”
The Police Ombudsman in the North, Nuala O'Loan, has told the family
that police had intelligence on the four-man gang within a year of the
murder, according to Sharkey.
“The killers all came from the Comber and Newtownards areas of north
Down.
“Information which would have identified these killers was
suppressed for more than 20 years, allowing these men to remain free -
and at liberty to kill again.
“The question is: why were these men being protected?
“Why were they above the law?” said Sharkey. . . .
Take
this link to read the full report from The
Sunday Business Post article. >>>
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6
May 2005: See report in today's local Dundalk Argus
newspaper, which states that the Louth County Coroner has
confirmed that a preliminary hearing will be held in May into the
death of Seamus Ludlow. It is revealed that the initial hearing
is set to take place on a date yet to be confirmed over the next few
weeks and that a full inquest will take place at a later date. The
coroner also said that the hearing will focus mainly on legal argument
in order to explore the scope of the inquest, and will involve members
of the Ludlow family and garda representatives.
Significantly,
there is still no date for this preliminary hearing which is set to
begin before the end of May and there are worrying concerns that the
full inquest may still be many months away.
To
read the full report from The Argus go to the following page.
>>>
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2
May 2005: The 29th anniversay of Seamus Ludlow's abduction and murder
has passed. His loyalist killers have yet to answer for their foul crime
and the authorities in Belfast and Dublin have yet to acknowledge the
injustice that was done to this innocent victim of British forces
collusion with loyalist death squads.
Despite
recent press speculation, see below, no dates have yet been announced
for the publication of the long-awaited private Barron Report on the
murder of Seamus Ludlow or for the holding of the fresh inquest that has
been delayed since July 2002.
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27 April
2005: See The
Belfast Telegraph, Second
inquest into 1976 Dundalk killing for yet another report that the
fresh inquest first announced in July 2002 is set to begin.
The
Belfast Telegraph quotes Ludlow family solicitor:
Ludlow
family solicitor James MacGuill said there were a number of issues to be
addressed.
"There are circumstances which led to him being abducted and there
were also issues surrounding the political use of his death by the Garda
in their failure to inform the family.
"There was also the issue surrounding the manner in which suspects
were not fully investigated. It was better for people to
think that the IRA had shot someone," he said.
To
read the full Belfast Telegraph report, go to >>>>
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26 April
2005: See The
Irish News, Inquest
into 1976 murder set to begin for yet another report that the long
delayed fresh inquest into the death of Seamus Ludlow may soon begin.
This inquest has been delayed now for almost three years. There have
been many such reports in recent months, yet still no inquest. The
Irish News reports: Louth
County coroner Ronan Maguire said yesterday that
he plans to hold a preliminary hearing next month.
It is expected that the hearing, during which he will receive
submissions from interested parties, will take place in around three
weeks’ time.
Seamus Ludlow, a 47-year-old forestry worker, was abducted and killed
by loyalist paramilitaries as he made his way home from a Dundalk pub
in May 1976.
There is evidence that the gang responsible was linked to the Red Hand
Commando and also included two UDR men.
The coroner said the scope and date for the beginning of the actual
inquest would depend on the progress made at the May hearing.
He added that he had received all the material he had requested from
gardai.
It
remains to be seen if this report actually leads to an inquest in
three weeks time. To
read the full Irish News report, go to >>>> I Top
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20 April
2005: See The Irish
News, Family 'treated like dirt' over delay
of report into murder
Regarding
the long-delayed publication of the private Barron Report on the
murder of Seamus Ludlow, The Irish News quotes a member of
the Ludlow family, who, in a hard-hitting statement of Ludlow family
disappointment at the continued delay, has:
accused
authorities of "treating us like dirt" for the past three
decades.
The
claim came as it emerged that it will be several weeks before the
publication of a report by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Henry
Barron into the killing by a loyalist gang.
Senior
government officials last night insisted that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
was keen to publish the Barron report in full. However, the
government is seeking advice on the risks posed by publicly naming a
umber of individuals featured in the report.
While
the names of Mr Ludlow's abductors and killers were made public by
the media some time ago, the government must make its decision to
name or shield individuals on a 'right to life' basis.
Official
sources said there was still "no word" on a publication
date, saying the taoiseach remained "anxious" to publish
the report in full.
They
said it was hoped that the report would be made public within weeks.
The government received the report from Justice Barron last October.
Mr
Ludlow's brother Kevin last night said it was a "disgrace"
that six months after the taoiseach received the Barron report it
had still not been published.
"This
is typical of the cover-up that's been going on since Seamus was
murdered 28 years ago," he said.
Mr
Ludlow also claimed that his family would "receive very
different treatment" if his 47-year-old brother had been
murdered by the IRA.
"If
Seamus had been killed by the IRA we would be getting the same
publicity as (Belfast murder victim) Robert McCartney's family. But
as soon as it became known that loyalists were behind Seamus' death,
the authorities here did everything they could to sweep it under the
carpet," he said.
He
said he believed that the Irish government did not want to
"embarrass" their British counterparts over evidence that
his brother's killers were linked to the security forces.
Take
this link to the full Irish News report >>>>
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10
March 2005: Reported in today's issue of The Irish News:
The
Barron report on the 1976 loyalist murder of Catholic forestry worker Seamus
Ludlow is to be published “within weeks”, the Irish News has learned.
The Irish government has been considering the contents of the report since it
was submitted by Mr Justice Henry Barron last year.
A government source last night said officials remained concerned about the
possible repercussions of publishing certain names contained in the document.
It is understood the names include those of the chief murder suspects,
investigating gardai and witnesses . . .
To
read the full report, go to >>>>.
February 4 2005: See today's Daily Ireland for
a report of the Dundalk bombing victims' familys' anger at the British prime
minister's failure to support an inquiry into collusion:
Relatives
of the 1975 Dundalk bomb victims are outraged at Tony Blair for ruling out an
inquiry into alleged British security force collusion with loyalists at the
time of the pub blast.
In
a letter to Bertie Ahern, Mr Blair ruled out an inquiry into the 1970s
bombings in Dundalk, Dublin and Monaghan.
Maura
McKeever, whose father Jack Rooney was killed in the dundalk blast, said,
"I am really disappointed that Tony Blair has not made a better effort to
accommodate us."
Another
man, Hugh Watters, also died when the car bomb exploded outside
Kay's Tavern in the Co Louth town's Crowe Street.
For the full report, go to
>>>>.
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24
December 2004: In a statement issued by The
Celtic League Secretary General, Mr Bernard Moffatt, reports that he
had written to the the Irish Minister for Justice, Mr Michael McDowell,
asking why there were apparent obstructions being placed in the path of the long
delayed inquest into the Seamus Ludlow murder.
Surprisingly,
as Mr Moffatt reports, the Department of Justice says that the Garda Síochána
has "always tried to cooperate fully with the Louth County Coroner over his
enquiries into the death of Seamus Ludlow, who was murdered by Loyalist
paramilitary's (very likely part of a murder gang run by the British
Intelligence Services) almost thirty years ago".
A reply, dated 20th December 2004, from the Ministers Private Secretary
says;
"The Minister is informed by the Garda authorities that legal
considerations arose in relation to the Louth County Coroner's request in this
matter. However, the Minister is pleased to inform you that these issues have
now been resolved, and it is understood that four documents, suitably redacted,
have now been forwarded to the coroner and that these are in excess of the
original request.
The Minister is
further assured by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána has at all
times sought to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the Louth
County Coroner on this issue."
To
read the full Celtic
League statement please follow this link >>>>.
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11
November 2004: In an RTE television news report headlined Ludlow
inquest preliminary hearing soon, it is revealed:
The
Louth County Coroner is to hold a preliminary hearing in the coming weeks into
the death of Seamus Ludlow, the forestry worker murdered by loyalists on 2 May
1976.
Ronan
McGuire recently received and is still studying the so-called Murphy Report.
That was the review of the original garda investigation into the murder, carried
out by Superintendent Ted Murphy in the late 1990s.
Mr
McGuire said he proposed holding a preliminary hearing involving members of the
Ludlow family and garda representatives to discuss the scope of the inquest.
The
full hearing into the death of Mr Ludlow will take place at a later date
The
complete RTE report can be accessed by clicking on this link
>>>.
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31
October 2004 :
The following comes from the October 2004 monthly report of British
Irish Rights Watch, London, compiled by the human rights group's
Director, Jane Winter:
coroner
finally receives copy of police file in case of seamus ludlow
At
long last An Garda Síochána have disclosed a copy of the police
investigation file on the murder of Seamus Ludlow to the coroner who
is holding a second inquest into this 1976 murder. Doubtless it
was a coincidence that this change of heart took place after BIRW had
written to the Chief Commissioner and the Attorney General saying,
“It has been an open secret for some time now that Seamus Ludlow, a
wholly innocent and inoffensive man, was murdered by loyalists during
a border incursion by Northern Ireland soldiers who were also
paramilitaries – a matter which we would have thought would have
been of utmost concern to the Irish government. We do not know
what it is that An Garda Síochána has to fear from an open
examination of this unforgivable murder, but their constant refusal to
reveal their files, firstly to the family’s lawyers and now to the
Coroner, give the inescapable impression that, either through
complicity or through collusion, they have something to hide.”
Mr Justice Barron’s report on this terrible case is expected soon.
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30 October 2004: In a statement
issued by Mr Bernard Moffatt, Secretary General of The Celtic League, he
has criticised the obstructions placed in the path of the Co. Louth
Coroner who is pursuing a reopened inquest into the death of Seamus
Ludlow.
As Mr Moffatt states: "The Celtic League had previously supported
calls by the Ludlow family for a reopened inquest and an independent
enquiry into his murder because of widespread suspicions that the loyalist
murder gang involved were actively colluding with the British military
intelligence services believed to be carrying out acts of violence south
of the border at that time.
"The League have urged the Justice Minister to
speak out and remove any impediment which blocks access by the Coroner to
documentation held by the Irish Police and ensure that they cooperate
fully with the inquest process."
Mr
Moffatt, has written to Mr Michael McDowell, the Irish Minister for
Justice, raising his concerns about the failure of the Garda to fully
cooperate with the Louth coroner. The full text of Mr Moffatt's letter
can be read by clicking on this link.
>>>>>
27 October 2004 - See article by Valerie Robinson in today's issue
of The Irish News :
This development followed upon the
coroner's decision to draw the Garda resistance to the attention of
Attorney General Rory Brady. It was the Attorney General himself who had
directed the coroner to open the fresh inquest more than two years ago.
Further pressure had been brought to bear by British Irish Rights Watch,
London, whose Director Jane Winter had written to the Attorney General and
the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy asking them to intervene in the
matter.
It is also revealed for the first time
that the private Barron investigation Report has been completed and has
been passed to the Irish government.
See also: The Dundalk Democrat: Ludlow
report submitted to coroner
See also: The Irish Times: Government
to support inquiry into killing of Louth man
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19 October 2004 - On hearing of the Garda's latest failure to hand
over the internal Murphy Report to the County Louth Coroner Ronan Maguire,
Jane Winter, Director of British Irish Rights Watch (BIRW), London, wrote
to the Attorney General and the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy
seeking their intervention in the matter.
In her letter, BIRW director Jane Winter
said:
"It has been an open secret for some time now that Seamus
Ludlow, a wholly innocent and inoffensive man, was murdered by loyalists
during a border incursion by Northern Ireland soldiers who were also
paramilitaries - a matter which we would have thought would have been of
utmost concern to the Irish government."
Ms Winter said the Ludlow family had been waiting an
"unconscionable" 28 years for justice.
15 October 2004 - See this report by Valerie Robinson in today's
issue of The Irish News. Among the disturbing revelations are confirmation that
the Garda are in effect obstructing the County Louth Coroner in his
efforts to convene a fresh inquest into the death of Seamus
Ludlow. It is also confirmed for the first time that two of the
fatal bullets taken from Seamus Ludlow's body are missing - and the Garda
have no explanation!:
The coroner due to reopen the inquest into the murder of Seamus
Ludlow is threatening to complain to the attorney general about Garda
unwillingness to cooperate fully.
Louth County Coroner Ronan Maguire was instructed in July 2002
by the attorney general, Rory Brady, to reopen the inquest into the death
of the forestry worker who was murdered by a loyalist gang in May
1976.
The coroner is seeking a copy of an internal Garda report into
the original investigation as part of his preparation work for the
inquest.
However, gardai this week told Mr Maguire that they were seeking
legal advice before making a final decision on whether they would hand
over the report by retired chief superintendent Ted Murphy.
The news came as a surprise to the coroner, who had been assured
by the Garda last month that he would receive a copy of the document,
which has never been made public.
Use this link to read the full report.
>>>>>
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18 September 2004: See Sister
'may die' before the truth is uncovered from today's issue of The Irish News, for a
report of the recent hospitalization of Mrs Kathleen Donegan, a sister of
the late Seamus Ludlow. Mrs Donegan (73) has been very seriously ill
on several occasions in recent years.
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31 August 2004: See reporter Valerie Robinson's report Top
garda's evidence sought in today's Irish News:
A retired senior garda is to be asked to give evidence at an
inquest on a report he compiled on the original Garda investigation into
the 1976 murder of Louth man Seamus Ludlow.
Co Louth coroner Ronan Maguire last night (Monday) told the
Irish News that he expected to receive the report by Chief
Superintendent Ted Murphy within days.
Mr Maguire, who met a number of senior Dublin and Dundalk
gardai about the matter earlier this month, revealed that he hoped to
receive the unpublished report by the end of the week. . .
.
Use the link above to read the full report.
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14 August 2004: See the following reports of the Ludlow family's
recent meeting with Justice Henry Barron in The Dundalk
Democrat:
See also The Argus below.
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7 August 2004: See article Barron
due to publish report in today's The Irish News newspaper for
further press comment on the Ludlow family's meeting with Justice Henry
Barron in Dundalk.
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5 August 2004: Members of the Ludlow family met with Mr Justice
Henry Barron in Dundalk. See
article in The Irish Examiner, 06 August 04: Report
on Ludlow murder ready ‘in autumn’:
A REPORT into the 1976 murder of Louthman
Séamus Ludlow by loyalists is expected to be completed by Mr Justice Henry
Barron by late September.
But two “black holes” are hampering his
private investigation, relatives of Mr Ludlow heard during their one and a
half hour “progress” meeting with Judge Barron in Dundalk
yesterday.
The “black holes” refer to the 28-year gap since the
shooting and a possible political cover-up in 1979 after gardaí got key
information on the killers’ identities.. .
Use the link above to access the complete
Irish Examiner report.
Justice Barron also held a meeting with the families of the Kay's
Tavern bombing victims Jack Rooney and Hugh Watters. to discuss his
private inquiry's progress in their case.
See also The Dundalk Democrat,
Mr Maguire, who is preparing for the second inquest into Seamus'
death, said this week that he had been requesting a copy of the report for
some time and that at last he may be having some success.
"There have been long delays and it has taken a long time to get to
this point. But for whatever reason I would be hopeful of having a copy of
the report carried out by Superintendent Ted Murphy in the next week or
so."
Seamus' nephew Jimmy Sharkey said this week that he would be happy
when the copy of the entire report is handed over to the County
Coroner.
"We have never seen this report. We met with Ted Murphy on a number
of occasions when he was working on the report and we found him to be a
decent man. But once it was completed we were not shown what it
contained.
"I'd also like to know for definite if the Coroner is being given
the report in its entirety," he said.
The first inquest into his death was held in August 1976. Seamus'
family were not present and they say they were only informed of the
hearing when it was too late to attend.
Mr Maguire says he now hopes to hold the inquest in early
September, and Seamus' relatives say they will be in attendance as will
retired state pathologist John Harbison, who gave a deposition at the
original inquest. . .
Follow the link above to read the Dundalk Democrat article
in full.
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29 July 2004: See today's Irish News for article by Valerie
Robinson (Southern Correspondent) Coroner
awaiting gardai findings in murder case for the latest on the fresh
inquest for Seamus Ludlow. The article begins:
A Coroner expects to learn 'within days' if he is to be given
findings of an internal garda report on the original investigation into
the 1976 murder of forestry worker Seamus Ludlow.
Louth County coroner Ronan Maguire has revealed that he had a
meeting with gardai in Dundalk last week during which he was told that the
force was still deciding whether to supply him with a copy of the 1998
report.
Mr Maguire, who first announced details of his plans to reopen the
Ludlow inquest two years ago, said the meeting had taken place nine days
ago, after he was contacted by gardai.
The coroner, who had initially hoped to begin the inquest this
month, said he had already been given extra sets of photographs from the
1976 investigation by gardai.. .
Follow the link above to read the article in full.
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15 July 2004: The Ludlow family lawyer speaks to the County Louth
Coroner in relation to the fresh
inquest into the death of Seamus Ludlow. The Coroner confirms that he
has made little progress with the Gardai in terms of securing the further
information he requires from them. No progress has been made in relation
to access to the 1998 Ted Murphy Report.
The Gardai have admitted for the first time that not all of the
fatal bullets have been located. The bullets were tested after the murder
but no reports have been produced. This is the first Garda admission that
bullets are missing, since the Ludlow family was informed some months ago
by Mrs Nuala O'Loan, the Northern Ireland Police
Ombudsman, that two of the bullets were unaccounted for. It had been
suspected that two bullets may have been sent north to the Northern
Ireland Forensic Science Laboratory many years ago and not
returned.
As for the fresh inquest, It was proposed that
it would begin on 30 July 2004. However, this date would prove to be too
optimistic. The gardai remained unwilling to hand over the required
documents.
See also The Irish Daily Star, 23 July 2004: Gardai
in murder case 'cover-up' Family claims Barron probe will reveal
it
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29 May 2004: See The Dundalk
Democrat report, Ludlow
inquest before the end of July for the latest on the fresh inquest for
Seamus Ludlow.
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22 May 2004: The 30th anniversary of the murderous Dublin and
Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974, in which 34 people, including an unborn
child, were killed by loyalist car bombs, was recalled in an Editorial (A
Quiet Anniversary) in the local weekly newspaper, The Dundalk
Democrat:
The anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings passed this
week with very little of the publicity which surrounded the atrocities 30
years ago. There was a wreath laying ceremony at the simple and beautiful
memorial on Talbot Street. An taoiseach Bertie Ahern was there with other
dignitaries, but the most important in attendance were the survivors and
relatives of those who lost their lives in what is still the biggest act
of terrorism and loss of life in Ireland during the Troubles.
The three car bombs went off within minutes of each other shortly
before 5.30pm on May 17 1974. Men, women and children were killed or
dreadfully mutilated in the bombings, which carried no warnings.
Less than an hour later, in Monaghan town, more lives were lost
when another bomb exploded. It is hard for younger people to imagine the
scene of devastation and the sense of shock which reverberated around
Ireland that day. . .
There are those in Dundalk who too know all about unanswered
questions. Maura McKeever, who lost her father, Jack Rooney, and Margaret
Watters, whose father, Hugh Watters, was also murdered in the Dundalk
bombing of 1975 know what it's like not to know.
The Ludlow and Sharkey families are still waiting for answers about
Seamus Ludlow, whose murder remains one of the Troubles most murky
episodes.
A full public inquiry is the only solution. It has to be asked what
the government is afraid of. What are they hiding and what do they know
about the shady goings-on that led to these murders and their
aftermath?
Huge expense is being lavished on tribunals of inquiry into dodgy
planning and political backhanders. Although these are important matters,
it looks like the government has got its priorities wrong.
No-one died because of what Liam Lawlor or George Redmond did or
didn't do. But in the very same city where those inquiries are taking
place, dozens of people lost their lives 30 years ago and no-one really
knows how or why.
The families of those who died in Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk have
been promised much over the last three decades, but have got little. When
the Dublin and Monaghan inquests are over, it's doubtful whether the
families will know any more than they did this week 30 years ago.
Use the link above to read the Editorial in full.
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20 May 2004: Writing about the much delayed fresh inquest into
the death of Seamus Ludlow, in today's The Irish
News (Coroner
plans inquest despite Garda hold-up), Valerie Robinson, the paper's
Southern Correspondent, revealed:
An
inquest into the death of Seamus Ludlow looks set to take place within the
next two months - despite the failure of gardai to release key documents
and evidence, a coroner has said.
Louth County Coroner Ronan Maguire last night said he was
determined to hold the inquest into the killing in 1976 of the Catholic
forestry worker. . . , before the end of July.
He said that "one way or the other" the inquest would take
place, despite the fact that gardai have yet to hand over details of
ballistics evidence and an internal Garda report compiled by Chief
Superintendent Ted Murphy in 1998 into the original murder
investigation.
Mr Maguire, who was ordered to hold a new inquest by Attorney
General Rory Brady in July 2002, said he also hoped to meet the solicitor
of the Ludlow family "quite shortly".
"I'm still waiting for information from gardai. I still haven't
received information on ballistics, although I have been told it will be
through shortly," he said.
Ludlow family member Jimmy Sharkey commented that the family was
concerned that the coroner would be forced to adjourn the inquest pending
further information from the gardai, if the force continued to refuse to
cooperate fully with Mr Maguire. He accused the Garda and the Irish
government of attempting to hide the truth about the killing of his late
Uncle Seamus:
"The fact that there have been so many delays would suggest to us
that the government has something to hide.
"We've asked repeatedly to see the internal Garda report and we've
been ignored," Mr Sharkey said.
Use the link above to read the full Irish News
report.
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2 May 2004: This day marks the 28th anniversary of Seamus Ludlow's
foul murder: 28 years without justice and truth. It is now more than six
years since four loyalist former Red Hand Commando and British Army UDR
suspects were arrested by the RUC for questioning about their alleged role
in this crime. They have enjoyed a further six years of freedom while the
family of Seamus Ludlow continue to seek the truth behind the cover-up
which still keeps them free.
The Ludlow family still waits for a second inquest that has been
delayed since its formal announcement in July 2002. No formal date has
been announced, though it is expected to take place before the end of
2004.
The Ludlow family also looks forward to the release of the private
Barron Inquiry Report - again sometime before the end of 2004. It is hoped
that the Barron Inquiry may lead to the public inquiry the Ludlow family
still demands.
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31 March 2004: The Joint Oireachtas Committee has recommended that
a full public inquiry into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings
atrocities should be held in Britain. The Committee had held hearings over
the last three months following a four-year private inquiry by retired
judge Henry Barron into the bombings. Judge Barron is currently conducting
similar inquiries into the Dundalk bombing and the murder of Seamus
Ludlow.
The Committee, backing an inquiry in the UK, said that witnesses
and those responsible for the attacks which killed 33 people as well as an
unborn baby on 17 May 1974, were likely to be outside the Irish
jurisdiction. The Committee added that if the British government failed to
set up an inquiry, the Irish Government should take an appeal to the
European Court of Human Rights.
The Committee also called for the setting up in Dublin of two
separate inquiries relating to the attacks - but, significantly not for a
public inquiry in the Irish state. One inquiry should look at the original
garda investigation and at why certain leads were never followed up, while
another inquiry should investigate how relevant files went missing from
the Department of Justice.
Margaret Urwin, spokesperson for Justice for the
Forgotten, representing most of the bombings' survivors and bereaved
relatives of victims, gave "very tentative welcome" to the Committee's
report. She said:
"The Committee called for answers on why key Garda files
disappeared, why the original Garda investigation stopped so quickly, why
an armed British army officer acting suspiciously that evening in Dublin
was allowed to leave on a ferry and known suspects never pursued.
"And they have called for an international judge to be appointed. .
. to be able to examine these issues across jurisdictions, just like Judge
Cory with inquiries into other cases.
"Their findings now put huge pressure on Bertie Ahern to ensure
Tony Blair agrees to these measures being implemented."
She added, that members of Justice for the Forgotten were
"extremely disappointed" that the Committee had stopped short of
ordering a full public inquiry but welcomed its acknowledgement that
further investigations were needed.
See The Irish Daily Star, 1 April 2004: Call
for bombings inquiry in U.K. Dail committee reports findings.
Barron Report
Final Report on the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry
into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings, laid before both Houses of the
Oireachtas on 31 March 2004. Full text available at
http://www.irlgov.ie/oireachtas/Committees-29th-Dáil/jcjedwr-debates/BarronReportFinal.pdf
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28 February 2004: See The Dundalk Democrat articles: Murder
on their mind for a further report on the Ludlow family's meeting with
Mr Justice Henry Barron; and Gardai
have the Ludlow bullets for comment on the new
inquest that is expected to commence shortly. The County Louth Coroner,
Ronan Maguire, is quoted as saying that the bullets used in the murder of
Seamus Ludlow are in the hands of the Gardai. This information conflicts
with previous reports that two of the bullets are missing.
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23 February 2003: Representatives of the Ludlow family had a
productive two-hours meeting in Dundalk with Mr Justice Henry Barron to
discuss his private inquiry into the murder of Seamus Ludlow.
It was an very interesting meeting in which the Ludlow
family members asked many questions and helped clarify a few issues for
the Mr Justice Barron.
They called on him to inquire further into the whereabouts of the
three bullets that were fired into Seamus Ludlow - it appears that only
one can be accounted for and two are missing. It has been suggested that
the missing bullets were sent north to the Northern Ireland Forensic
Science Laboratory. Mr Justice Barron was also asked to inquire into the
present whereabouts of Seamus Ludlow's clothing which may still provide
useful DNA evidence.
Mr Justice Barron revealed that his private inquiry report will not
be completed and published until later in the year. He still has many
queries to get answers for. It had been hoped that his report would be
completed early in 2004, but there have been delays in receiving
information and more needs to be done. The Ludlow family is content to
wait until Mr Justice Barron has done as thorough an investigation as is
possible within his remit.
The Ludlow family looks forward to eventually
seeing Justice Barron's inquiry report, but that will not be the end of
the fight. There are important answers which can only be found through the
medium of a public inquiry.
However, it is hoped that Justice Barron's inquiry report will help
point the way to a public inquiry.
Justice Barron's narrow remit does not give him the power to compel
witnesses to meet him nor answer his questions, nor can he demand the
production of documents. He can not question gardai or other
important witnesses under oath and the Ludlow family can not check on the
honesty or otherwise of what they tell him. Witnesses can simply refuse to
meet him or answer his questions - and some have done exactly that!
Mr Justice Barron can not simply walk into the Department of Justice or
Garda Headquarters and see what is there for himself. Nor can he do
anything about the ongoing British indifference to his inquiries.
A public inquiry - perhaps led by Mr Justice Barron himself - would
have the power of subpoena over witnesses and documents. Witnesses would
be questioned under oath and in public. Their perjury would be seen by
all. Liars would be exposed.
At the end of the meeting Mr Justice Barron accompanied Ludlow
family members as they visited the memorial to Seamus Ludlow in the lane
off the Bog Road where the foul murder was committed in 1976.
See also the following reports of this important meeting with Mr
Justice Barron:
RTE Television News, online, 23 February 2004: Barron
meets relatives of man killed by UDA
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29 January 2004: See The Irish Daily Star (Northern
Edition) report Family
and former British army man hit out
Barron "Failed to Serve Truth" Former spy
slams report for an interview with ex-British
officer Fred Holroyd.
See also: The Irish Daily Star (Northern
Edition): Family
wants truth about murder for a Ludlow family comment on the Barron
inquiry.
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20 December 2003: See the following articles
from the local Dundalk Democrat newspaper for comments on the recently
published Barron Report on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
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10 December 2003: The |