Statement by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), 15 July 1993

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) issued a statement, via the offices of Ulster Television, on 15 July 1993. The statement claimed sole responsibility for the Dublin and Monaghan bombings on 17 May 1974. The statement was issued in response to the broadcast, on 6 July 1993, of a documentary entitled 'Hidden Hand -the Forgotten Massacre' made as part of Yorkshire Television's 'First Tuesday' series. The text of the UVF statement is as follows:

"Following the sinister allegations of collusion mischeviously constructed by presenters of the recent First Tuesday programme which supposedly investigated the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The UVF avails itself of this opportunity to state clearly and without reservation that the entire operation was from its conception to its successful conclusion, planned and carried out by our volunteers aided by no outside bodies.

In contrast to the scenario painted by the programme, it would have been unnecessary and indeed undesirable to compromise our volunteers anonimity [sic] by using clandestine Security Force personnel, British or otherwise, to achieve [an] objective well within our capabilities.

The operation whilst requiring a fair degree of preparation and not a little courage did not as was suggested by the so called experts require a great deal of technical expertise.

The comments made by some of those interviewed were at best naive if not deliberately misleading.

Given the backdrop of what was taking place in Northern Ireland when the UVF [were] bombing republican targets at will, either the researchers decided to take poetic licence to the limit or the truth was being twisted by knaves to make [a ] trap for the fools...The minimum of scrutiny should have revealed that the structure of the bombs placed in Dublin and Monaghan were similar if not identical to those being placed in Northern Ireland on an almost daily basis.

The type of explosives, timing and detonating methods all bore the hallmark of the UVF.

It is incredulous that these points were lost on the Walter Mittys who conjured up this programme.

To suggest that the UVF were not, or are not, capable of operating in the manner outlined in the programme is tempting fate to a dangerous degree."

Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), Belfast, 15 July 1993.