The families of victims of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings tonight said they had no confidence in a new Commission of Investigation to probe missing garda files.
Investigation chairman, barrister Paddy MacEntee, who will have powers to demand documents and compel witness to attend, is expected to report to the Government within six months.
The probe will investigate why the garda inquiry was wound down in 1974, why it failed to follow up significant leads and how garda documents went missing.
However Justice for the Forgotten are angry that the State won't pay for the legal costs for bereaved families and survivors and will thus be excluded from the inquiry.
Campaign secretary Margaret Unwin said: "In the absence of an undertaking by the State to meet the families' legal costs they find themselves at a distinct disadvantage compared to the Department of Justice and the Garda Siochana who will be fully represented.
"In the circumstances Justice for the Forgotten can have no confidence in the process of investigation being embarked on."
It is the first time that an inquiry has been launched under the Commission of Investigation Act, 2004 and it will have similar powers to tribunals without expensive legal representation.
Under the Act, it will be a criminal offence to make a false statement, to obstruct the Commission or to fail to comply with a direction.
PA