New look into deaths from Monaghan bomb

The Dublin City coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, will today reopen the inquest into the deaths of six people in the Monaghan bombing of May 17th, 1974.

The move follows a request earlier this month from the Attorney General, Mr Rory Brady, to Dr Farrell that the case be reopened.

In June, an inquest was reopened into the deaths of 26 people killed in bomb blasts in Dublin on the same day as the Monaghan bombing. That case also covers the death of one survivor of the Monaghan bomb, who later died in Dublin.

The inquest into the deaths of three CIÉ workers killed in separate blasts in Dublin in 1972 and 1973 is also down for mention before the Coroner's Court today, having been reopened in July.

Loyalist paramilitaries are suspected of having been responsible for the bombs.

The full inquest proceedings on the 1974 deaths will not proceed until the publication of an independent report on the case by Mr Justice Barron. The Barron report is expected to be published before the end of this month. Mr Justice Barron has investigated whether the British forces colluded with the UVF.

While the inquest into the Dublin deaths was adjourned in 1974, the Monaghan inquest ran its course in the summer of that year. A verdict of death by high explosives was returned. However, the Justice for the Forgotten group said the reopening of the case was "natural" in light of the reopening of the Dublin case.

Ms Margaret Urwin, the group's campaign secretary, said many were hopeful a meaningful conclusion to the inquests would bring closure.

A spokesman for the Coroner's Court last night said it was unlikely any substantive hearing would take place today. However, lawyers for the relatives of the dead would be free to make submissions on any matters.