The inquests into the deaths of three CIÉ workers in two car-bombings in Dublin over 30 years ago were formally reopened yesterday.
The Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, reopened the inquests into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of George Bradshaw (30), Offington Avenue, Sutton, on December 1st, 1972; Thomas Duffy (24), Gracefield Avenue, Artane, on December 1st, 1972; and Thomas Douglas (20), Malahide Road, Dublin, a native of Scotland, on January 20th, 1973.
Dr Farrell said the inquests into the deaths of Bradshaw and Duffy were adjourned on December 21st, 1972, and the Douglas inquest was adjourned on February 21st, 1973. They were reopened yesterday.
At the request of the families,the files were revisited. "I have examined the files and I think that there is a qualitative difference between them and those for the so-called Dublin bombings on May 14th, 1974, in that we have a considerable number of statements," Dr Farrell said.
Mr Cormac Ó Dúlacháin SC, for the Justice for the Forgotten group and the three victims' families, said that Judge Barron's report into the 1974 Dublin bombings, in which 26 people died, would be published in September. The judge had indicated there would be a subsidiary report on the 1972 and 1973 bombings.
Judge Barron was in the course of finalising the subsidiary report and it would follow a short time after the report on the 1974 bombings in Dublin, Mr Ó Dúlacháin said.
As 30 years had passed, they were anxious that the inquest would proceed with the fullest information possible and that the hearing should be adjourned until after the report, he said.
"As a matter of history, there is less known in the public domain of these events than of the 1974 events. While there is a body of information in terms of the causation of events, there are a significant number of unanswered questions," Mr Ó Dúlacháin said.
There was material that would be available once the Barron report was published, he said.
Dr Farrell said it had been stated the hearing had nothing to do with the Barron report.
Mr Ó Dúlacháin said it was a separate inquiry but it would be important to have sight of it. He asked if the gardaí were able to provide up-to-date information.
Dr Farrell said he had already written to the Garda Commissioner.
To the families, Dr Farrell said: "A great deal of time has passed, lifetimes have passed, and I will try to bring these hearings to an expeditious conclusion."
He said when the application to reopen was made, he thought very carefully about the effects and knew there would be a lot of painful memories.
"I will endeavour to find the facts and reach closure in relation to these tragic deaths," Dr Farrell said.
He adjourned the hearing to September 18th at 3.30 p.m.