Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the morning of Monday, 9 August 1971, the security forces launched Operation Demetrius, the introduction of internment in the North. The deaths of ten innocent civilians occurred in the ensuing three days up to 11 August. Their friends and families have always known they were innocent, and now the world knows that they were indeed innocent.

I welcome the verdict of the inquiry even if I regret that it took so long to achieve it - too long. We know from the summary of findings of the Honourable Mrs. Justice Keegan, who presided as coroner over the inquests into the deaths, that the inadequacy of the original investigation was shocking. According to Mrs. Justice Keegan, not one statement was taken from the military in the area. The scene was not sealed and the bullets were not recovered. She went on to say that there had been an abject failing by the authorities to inquire into the death of innocent civilians on the streets and that this failure had hampered the coroner greatly. The coroner recorded in the strongest of terms that that was a striking feature of the case.

We must hope, pray and ensure that we never return to those days. However, we must also do that while working to ensure that the political institutions on this island are as strong as possible. We must all work together to unite rather than divide the communities on this island.

I end by remembering the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the 47th anniversary of which occurred yesterday. We need truth on those events. There cannot be true healing for those families who are bereaved if there is no truth. The Taoiseach stated before Christmas that he would make inquiries with the British about the Belturbet bombing, but this does not seem to have happened. It is unfair on those people and certainly deepens the wounds of all families concerned if there is no follow-up. They cannot get justice without a proper process of investigation into that case.

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