Press Release on behalf of Bertie Ahern on the Publication of the Sixth Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation, (Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974), (1 November 2006)

Press Release on behalf of Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), on the Publication of the Sixth Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation, (Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974), (1 November 2006)

Taoiseach Publishes the Sixth Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation (Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974)

The Taoiseach has today published the Sixth Interim Report by the Commission of Investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974.

Following a request from Mr. Patrick MacEntee, SC QC, Sole Member of the Commission of Investigation, the Taoiseach has granted a further extension of the timeframe for the completion of the Report of the Commission of Investigation. The timeframe for completion of the Final Report has now been extended to 11th December 2006.

1st November 2006

Copies of the report are available on www.taoiseach.gov.ie under publications.

Note for Editors:

Under Section 6 (6) of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, in the event of a requirement for an extension of the timeframe of a Commission of Investigation, the Commission must request an extension from the specified Minister. An Interim Report must accompany this request. It is then a matter for the discretion of the Minister concerned, in this case the Taoiseach, to decide whether to publish the Interim Report.

Under Section 38 (2) of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, the specified Minister is required to apply to the Court for directions concerning the publication of the Report if the specified Minister considers that the publication of the final report might prejudice any criminal proceedings that are pending or in progress. In order to establish this, the specified Minister is likely to request legal advice from the office of the Attorney General.

The terms of reference of the Commission of Investigation are:

To undertake a thorough investigation and make a report on the following specific matters considered by the Government to be of significant public concern.

(1) Why the Garda investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan

(2) Why the Gardai did not follow-up on the following leads:

(i) information that a white van, with an English registration plate,

(ii) information relating to a man who stayed in the Four Courts

UVF;

(iii) information concerning a British Army corporal allegedly sighted

and

(3) In relation to the missing documentation:

(i) the exact documentation (Departmental, Garda intelligence and

(ii) the reasons explaining why the documentation went missing;

(iii) whether the missing documentation can now be located; and

(iv) whether the systems currently in place are adequate to prevent a re-occurrence of such documentation going missing.

To take account of investigative work already undertaken into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974, including the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry, the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights, Inquest Statements and the Internal Garda Investigation.

To provide a final report to An Taoiseach not later than six months from the date of establishment of the Commission.

ENDS.