Remarks at meeting with ‘Justice for the Forgotten’ - Dublin & Monaghan bombings
Áras an Uachtaráin, 22nd May 2014
I wish to welcome you here to Áras an Uachtaráin on this solemn and very poignant occasion.
In a week when we are marking the 40th anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings, in which 34 people were killed, including an unborn baby at full-term, and many hundreds were injured, this is very difficult time for you all. Many of you here were directly affected by the devastating bombings that day or by other terrible attacks in Dundalk, Dublin, Belturbet and Castleblaney.
Today we gather here to remember these profound tragedies. Whilst the people of Ireland stand in solidarity with you in your loss, it is you personally and your families who have had to bear the grief of those tragic events. Despite the passage of time, I know that the resulting pain and suffering remains with you to this day. You still mourn your loved ones, you still bear the scars of injuries sustained and you still quest to know what happened.
Last Saturday at a memorial service on Talbot Street, the Taoiseach, on behalf of the Government, joined you in remembering those killed and injured in the Dublin-Monaghan bombings on the 40th anniversary of the atrocity. The terrible memory of that day is also etched deeply in my own mind. On behalf of the people of Ireland, I wish to solemnly recall to memory all those who lost their lives or were injured on that dreadful day and to pay tribute to your work in the name of the victims.
Like the families of so many other victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland conflict, you have been trying to find answers about what happened. The report compiled by the late Judge Henry Barron provided some of the answers, as indeed did the subsequent hearings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee. However, there are still many unanswered questions and I know that this is a heavy burden on you all.
The Good Friday Agreement created a framework for peace and reconciliation on this island. Its principles and values remain as valid now as they were in 1998 when they were solemnly embraced by the people across this entire island. In regard to victims, the parties to the Agreement expressed their belief that it was:
“essential to acknowledge and address the suffering of the victims of violence as a necessary element of reconciliation."
That imperative remains as valid in 2014 as it was in 1998.
As a then member of Dáil Éireann, I recall clearly the All-Party motions of 2008 and 2011 calling on the British Government:
“to allow access by an independent, international, judicial figure to all original documents held by the British Government relating to the atrocities that occurred in this jurisdiction and which were inquired into by Judge Barron for the purpose of assessing said documents with the aim of assisting in the solution of those crimes”.
The fact that these motions were supported by all shades of political opinion in the Oireachtas is reflective of the moderation and reasonableness of the request being made. I share your hope, and that of the Irish Government, that the British Government can find a way to respond positively to this measured and constructive proposal.
Whether it is on this island or in other post-conflict situations across the globe, addressing the legacy of the past is not an easy task. There is no simple formula of words or actions that can put things right. Legitimate demands in individual cases to address the past can sometimes put pressure on fragile political dispensations. And when there are competing narratives about the causes and justness of the conflict, even the question of who is a victim can be contentious and divisive.
But none of this takes from our collective responsibility to find a way to deal ethically with the legacy of the Troubles. A strategy of amnesia is simply not an option. Asking people to forget about the past and to “move on” is neither acceptable in a moral sense nor workable in political terms. Momentous anniversaries of terrible atrocities, such as this most significant one we are marking together today, are salutary reminders of the urgent need to find an ethical and holistic way to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in their totality.
In contrast to the terrible events of 1974, a positive and resounding change has occurred in recent years in British-Irish relations. A relationship built on mutual respect and co-operation now exists. My recent State Visit to the United Kingdom, and the earlier visit to Ireland by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 2011, attest to the much improved climate of relations between our two countries and our two peoples.
One of the reasons these visits were so positive was that they solemnly acknowledged the hurts of the past and committed both States to work to secure a future based on equality, neighbourliness and friendship. As we progress towards such a better future, we must not forget those who died, those who mourn them and those who were injured. And, confident in the maturity of the relationship between Ireland and Britain and in the durability of our friendship, we must be willing to encourage each other to do more in addressing the needs of victims and survivors. The Dublin-Monaghan bombings is clearly a case where more is required.
When addressing issues concerning victims and survivors, “closure” is a word I prefer to avoid. Given the loss that you have had to bear, I don’t know if any possible outcome to your struggle will grant you complete closure or totally heal the wounds of the grievous hurt that was inflicted upon you and your beloved family and friends. But perhaps as you continue on your journey, you collectively learn how to survive and, as you help each other in mutual support and solidarity, you become better and stronger survivors. That in itself is no mean achievement.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Justice for the Forgotten for the work and advocacy they have undertaken on behalf of the families over the course of almost twenty years. I wish in particular to note the work of Margaret Urwin who has been a tireless voice for the families of all those killed in Troubles-related incidents in this State. I wish to also acknowledge the presence of staff from the Pat Finucane Centre, and salute the vital work they undertake in relation to dealing with the past.
Thank you all for coming to visit me today. It is an honour to receive you and, mar Uachtarán na hÉireann, to pay my respects to the memory of those men, women and children who lost their lives, and who were injured, on the streets of Dublin and Monaghan on 17th May 1974.