Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Future Direction of An Garda Síochána: Garda Commissioner

9:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Harris talked about delivering a professional policing and security service that protects the vulnerable. I presume this is not only looking ahead but includes historical inquiries. Mr. Harris has alluded to a number of ongoing murder inquiries and we wish those well. There was an earlier reference to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings on 17 May 1974, a day that I will never forget. With no reference to a hierarchy of victimhood, it was the single greatest atrocity through all the years of conflict we have known on this island in relatively recent times. The Houses of the Oireachtas, this Parliament, have on three occasions unanimously passed motions appealing for full co-operation with the appointed inquirers into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

We have appealed to the British Government and its agencies to co-operate fully in the provision of all documentation, information and files relevant to the respective inquiries into those matters that took place north of the Border, and elsewhere if that be the case. Deputy Commissioner Twomey responded earlier to one of my colleague's inquiries on this particular matter. The Commissioner himself earlier indicated a willingness to meet victims and the representatives of victims. In this particular instance, that is the Justice for the Forgotten organisation, heroically led by a lady called Ms Margaret Irwin. Will the Commissioner facilitate an opportunity to meet Ms Irwin and with victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the survivors and bereaved families? There were 33 deaths in those bombings.

Commissioner Harris is unquestionably highly qualified for the position he has undertaken. His experience is a significant factor in that. Can the Commissioner, because of his previous roles, responsibilities and exposure, bring something more to the call, the wish and the cry for justice? Despite the passage of time since 1974, here we are heading for 44 years later and that cry for truth and justice in respect of those particular atrocities has not faded. Can the Commissioner, given his experience, knowledge, contacts, communications et al., offer any hope for a better position than maintains currently? As Deputy Commissioner Twomey indicated, this is not an area where there has been a flow of communications. That is something we all too sadly know very well.

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