Relatives of those who died in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings mourned in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the attack. The fatal attacks were incidents of loyalist terror which caused the highest single-day death count in the Troubles. The bombings killed 33 people, including one pregnant woman, and left over 300 injured. The bombings consisted of four car explosions, three of which took place in Dublin and were believed to have been carried out in retaliation for a power-sharing agreement.
The attack perpetrated on the 17th of May, 1974, was forgotten by many but has had a significant impact on the survivors. Catherine Doyle and Sandra O’Brien were among the attendees of the commemoration ceremony in Dublin. Ms O’Brien’s brother John and Ms Doyle’s sister Anna were victims of the attack, along with John and Anna’s children. The bombings left deep wounds for the families, who still struggle with the loss they faced. No one has ever been prosecuted for the attacks, which were later claimed by the Ulster Volunteer Force, a loyalist paramilitary group, 19 years after the bombings.
The events began with Irish President Michael D Higgins and other officials laying wreaths at the Dublin monument dedicated to the victims of the bombings. President Higgins spoke about the families left behind, saying that they not only had to mourn the deaths of their loved ones but also face a long wait for essential information. Surviving victim, Bernie McNally, remembers feeling like her skeleton had been rattled when the bomb went off in Dublin. She has described how temporarily losing her sight and then seeing bodies scattered around her haunted her memory.
Two ongoing investigations in Northern Ireland could uncover new information about the bombings and the identity of those responsible. Although many of the families of victims and survivors have launched legal action against the British government, alleging collusion, the recent court success allowed them to proceed with the discovery order. Kevin Winters, a solicitor for the families affected by the bombings, said he was glad the legal battle would finally reach an overdue full hearing
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