Queen Elizabeth's visit coinciding with the Dublin/Monaghan bombings anniversary presents with a "golden opportunity" to release British Government files relating to the 1974 tragedy, a group representing survivors said today.
Justice for the Forgotten spokeswoman Margaret Urwin described the death of 33 civilians as Ireland's 9/11, "proportionate to our population". She was speaking after relatives of the victims laid wreaths to mark the 37th anniversary of the incident at a memorial on Talbot Street in Dublin.
“This anniversary today is a remarkable one as it takes place at the same time as the British Monarch arrives for her first ever visit to this part of the island,” Ms Urwin said.
"As prime minister David Cameron will accompany her and is due to meet our Taoiseach Enda Kenny tomorrow, we believe this occasion affords Mr Cameron a wonderful, a golden opportunity to make a genuine significant gesture of reconciliation."
Ms Urwin said Justice for the Forgotten was appealing to Mr Cameron to "open the files" that she said were withheld from the late Mr Justice Henry Barron, who investigated the bombings, and allow a new judicial inquiry.
She urged Mr Kenny to impress on Mr Cameron that releasing the files would "send a powerful message of reconciliation to the people of Ireland". Mr Cameron had shown great courage
Ms Urwin said none of those who died were "among what you might call the high and mighty of this land", but they were loved and missed by their families.
Among the politicians who attended today's wreath-laying ceremony were Lord Mayor of Dublin Gerry Breen; Labour TDs Joe Costello and Aodhán Ó Riordáin; Fianna Fáil deputy Brendan Smith and Senator Mary White; Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and other party TDs; Socialist TD Joe Higgins and Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit.
A number of Independent TDs were present, including Finian McGrath, Maureen O’Sullivan, Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Thomas Pringle.
Artist Robert Ballagh also attended.
Speaking in the Dáil this evening on a Sinn Féin private members’ motion on the bombings, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the scheduling of the first day of the visit of the British Queen on the anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings "showed gross insensitivity".
Mr Ó Caoláin said Taoiseach Enda Kenny's record on the issue was "less than satisfactory" and said British prime minister David Cameron should take the opportunity while in Ireland tomorrow to give a commitment to release all the files.
