Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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86. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there has been progress on an investigation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24271/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I express my sympathy to the families of the families bereaved by the bombing at Belturbet in December 1972. It was a senseless and unjustifiable act of violence which tragically took the lives of two innocent young people.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the bombing and two murders in Belturbet were the subject of a thorough investigation at the time by An Garda Síochána, with expert assistance provided by the Army. The investigations at that time involved close liaison with the authorities in Northern Ireland in an effort to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, although every avenue of inquiry open to the investigation was pursued at that time there was no evidence to bring those responsible for this crime to justice. It remains a source of disappointment that no one has yet been brought to justice for these murders.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the investigation into these murders remains open. While regrettably it is the case that with the passage of time and in the absence of any new evidence emerging, one must be realistic about the prospects of successful prosecutions, it is nonetheless the case that Garda Authorities will pursue any new information or evidence that becomes available and would work with the PSNI to seek to progress the investigation in those circumstances. I would call on anyone with any relevant information to bring it to the attention of the Garda Authorities.