Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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380. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1453 of 21 April 2021, if she has been in contact with her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive and brought to her attention the new information that has been brought to light by a person (details supplied) into the failure by the RUC to provide intelligence to An Garda Síochána of a car stolen from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh on 28 December 1972 and the identity of the loyalist paramilitary who was in possession of the car which was subsequently used in the bombing of Clones; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25486/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On 28 December 1972, bombs exploded in three border towns, Clones, Co. Monaghan, Belturbet, Co. Cavan and Pettigo, Co. Donegal. The perpetrators of these bombings demonstrated a callous disregard for human life with many injured and the lives of two innocent young people taken in the Belturbet bombing.

The bombings were comprehensively investigated at the time by An Garda Síochána. The investigation pursued various lines of inquiry; however it was not possible to acquire sufficient evidence to sustain a prosecution.

With regard to the new information referred to by the Deputy, as was advised in the previous response to the Deputy last month, the new information published by the academic has been forwarded to An Garda Síochána for consideration and any appropriate action.

An Garda Síochána has confirmed that the investigation remains open and any new information will be assessed.

I can also confirm that I had a meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last week in Dublin and during the meeting I took the opportunity to highlight the very tragic events that occurred in Belturbet and which had been the subject of recent public commentary.

I would ask that anyone with information in relation to these appalling acts to please contact An Garda Síochána.