The jury in the inquests into the deaths of 34 people in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of May 1974 has found that they were unlawfully killed by a person, or persons, unknown.
The jury also found that the evidence indicated members of a loyalist group were involved, but the evidence did not establish this beyond reasonable doubt. They requested the Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, forward the transcripts of the inquest to the Taoiseach and asked the Government to forward the transcripts to the Northern Ireland Secretary.
Dr Farrell, described the bombings as a gross example of "man's inhumanity to man". The heard more than three weeks of evidence from some 153 witnesses, including people who were present at the scenes of the bombs at Talbot Street and Parnell Square on May 17th 1974.
One witness said he had an argument with a man over a parking space in Parnell Street at exactly the place where the car bomb exploded a short time later. Families heard horrific evidence of the injuries suffered by their loved ones.
Dr Farrell told them that based on the autopsy evidence, he believed those who died met their deaths instantaneously or were unconscious from the time of the blast.
An inquest can only make findings of fact as to how, when and where a person died and as to the identity of the deceased. It cannot apportion any blame.