Dublin Monaghan bombings 'won't harm Anglo-Irish relations'
Plans to take the UK to the European courts over the Dublin Monaghan bombings will not strain Anglo-Irish relations, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern insisted today.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said on Tuesday that he would consult with his Attorney General in a bid to take a case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Ireland has unsuccessfully sought British intelligence documents on the May 1974 car bombs that killed 34 people – the single biggest loss of life during Northern Ireland’s troubles.
Mr Ahern said in Dublin today he didn’t think that taking Britain to the European Court of Justice would strain Anglo-Irish relations.
“We’ve been here before. We’re two democratic governments,” he said.
“We’ve already taken the British government to court over Sellafield and we’re still prosecuting that case very vigorously.
“But it doesn’t reduce our ability to work with each other. We still get on with the work because we’re professional politicians.
“I can’t see any of these issues diverting us from the co-operation we can have on North-South and East-West issues.”
An Irish judicial inquiry reported two years ago that it was “likely” there had been collusion between members of the British security forces and the loyalist bomb teams.
An all-party parliamentary committee recommended in February that Ireland should pursue a case for the files in the European Court of Human Rights.
Bertie Ahern raised the issue during talks with his British Prime Minster Tony Blair in London on Monday.
The Justice for the Forgotten group, which represents relatives of those killed in the bombings, has already filed complaints with the Strasbourg-based court.
It alleges that the Ulster Volunteer Force was assisted by membes of British army intelligence in planning and planting the bombs.
Mr Ahern said there was “general disappointment” within the Irish Government at the lack of co-operation by the British.
“It’s one of a number of areas that we have some difficulties and differences with the British in progressing.
“We will continue our dialogue and take whatever actions we think are necessary.”
Dermot Ahern was speaking at a landmark meeting in Dublin today on cross-border issues between between the Irish Government and an SDLP delegation from Northern Ireland.
All-Ireland free travel for OAPs, waste management, transport links, an all-island energy market, mobile phone roaming charges were all on the agenda.
Mr Ahern said they wanted to tease out the North-South issues on which there can be practical movement.
“We want to work in close co-operation with all of the parties in Northern Ireland to bring real benefits to ordinary people,” he said.
“Our OAPs can go to Belfast but if they want to go on to Derry, that’s a problem. We want to work with the Northern Ireland Office to ensure that it is a seamless system.
“We would rather the Assembly and Executive be up and running but we have to work with the system we have. We would rather the stop-start nature of the Good Friday Agreement was not in place.
“The sooner we get back to real politics the better,” added Mr Ahern, who was joined at today’s meeting by Environment Minister Dick Roche and Transport Minister Martin Cullen.
Mr Ahern referred to Irish Finance Minister Brian Cowen’s recent comments that €100bn could be spent on cross-border infrastructure over the next 10 years.
The SDLP delegation said it was very encouraged by the meeting which would be convened again.
Party leader Mark Durkan said: “We need to sort out problems, anomalies and downright absurdities that are there at the moment on a cross-border basis.”
The SDLP delegation included MLAs, John Dallat, Patsy McGlone and Sean Farren.
The cross-border issues will be followed up by Irish Government ministers and their counterparts in Northern Ireland in coming months.
Mr Durkan also said the expected IRA statement on ending its armed struggle should be definitive and irreversible.
“The IRA need to know that there are very clear standards and that’s one of the things that has been very strong from both Governments in recent times.
“The requirements are very, very clear and can’t be fudged.”
