Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The first report was the work of Mr. Patrick MacEntee, SC. The second report was on the 1972-73 bombings and the third was on the death of Mr. Seamus Ludlow. Then there is the current report. There is definitely strong evidence of collusion and the British Government is very much aware of our concern in this regard. The Miami Showband tragedy is one of many incidences. I spelt out clearly for the British Government the view pertaining in this House and the conclusions reached by Mr. Justice Barron, against the backdrop of the location and the people we are dealing with. More will need to be done to progress the reports further. However, the British are in no doubt as regards our views and our feelings on these issues. In the Miami Showband case there is certainly a strong sense that loyalists and the UDR were working hand in hand. Even the surviving member of the band strongly maintains that a senior British Army officer was present that night. There is a lot of evidence and we have done well to present it all. What the final outcome will be is another question, but we have progressed matters significantly.

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