Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Matt Carthy TD, said that while the publication of the final Kenova report showed collusion did exist, it failed to deliver truth for the families of those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
Deputy Carthy said it was now crucial that the Irish Government redouble its efforts to ensure all information related to this atrocity and all instances where the British state or its agents are suspected of colluding in attacks and murders be released and made available to Irish authorities.
Teachta Carthy said, “Headlines suggesting there was no collusion in the case of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings will have come as a shock to the families of those killed and injured in the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings. Those headlines don’t reflect the reality or the contents of the final Kenova report, including its recognition of clear evidence of collusion with loyalist paramilitaries by state actors.
“Operation Kenova was deliberately undermined by the British state agency MI5. These actions were designed to block the truth.
“Operation Denton which specifically examined the activities of the Glenanne Gang confirms collusion between British state actors and loyalists in a campaign of systemic murder.
“These reports expose criminality, collusion and cover-up at the highest levels of the British State. They confirm that agencies of the British state repeatedly broke the law.
“The final Kenova report recognises that ‘security force intelligence assessments indicate that paramilitary groups were regularly supplied with intelligence by members of the security forces’.
“It recognises that collusion between individuals within the security forces and loyalist groups is a matter of public record.
“While the report states that no material examined provides evidence of high-level state collusion, or an intent on the part of the leadership of the British Army or UK government to collaborate with loyalist paramilitaries, the Denton report crucially acknowledges that such records are unlikely to have been made or retained.
“The families of those killed in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Miami Showband massacre in 1975, bomb attacks in Belturbet, Dundalk, Castleblayney, at Dublin Airport and in other atrocities deserve truth. It is clear that there will be no truth from British authorities in relation to the actions of the Glenanne Gang.
“It is now over to the Irish Government. The Irish Government must insist that all material and evidence provided to and examined by Kenova as well as all other relevant information is now made available to Irish authorities without further delay. It is disgraceful that this has not been done to date.”
Sinn Féin Chief Whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called for an urgent Dáil debate on the findings of the legacy investigations and reviews published today as part of the Kenova Final Report.
Speaking in the Dáil today Deputy Mac Lochlainn said the reports provide further confirmation of collusion, criminality and cover-up by the British State and expose the central role of the British State over decades in hundreds of targeted assassinations and murders of Irish citizens.
The final report on Operation Kenova, alongside reports on Operations Denton, Mizzenmast and Turma, were published in Belfast today.
Teachta Mac Lochlainn said, “My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones and who continue to campaign tirelessly for truth and justice.
“These reports expose the central role of the British State over decades in hundreds of targeted assassinations and murders of Irish citizens.
“They provide further proof of criminality, collusion and cover-ups at the highest levels of the British State and confirm that their agencies repeatedly broke the law.
“The British State agency MI5 deliberately attempted to block the truth by undermining Operation Kenova.
“Considering efforts by British State actors to block cooperation and withhold the truth there are serious questions about their approach in dealing with the past under the proposed new Legacy Act mechanisms.
“We need an urgent Dáil debate to allow us to deal with the seriousness of these findings.”
