Report on 1974 loyalist bombs

Thirty-three people died on the Troubles' bloodiest day

A long-awaited report on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings almost 30 years ago has been presented to Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

Relatives of those killed in the 1974 bombings hope Wednesday's report into allegations of collusion between British security services and loyalist paramilitaries will be published in full within two weeks.

No-one has ever been convicted of carrying out the two car bomb attacks which killed 33 people and injured more than 250.

It was the biggest loss of life on a single day in the Troubles.

Twenty-six people were killed in Dublin, and 90 minutes later seven died in a bombing in the town of Monaghan.

Collusion claims

The inquiry was set up in Dublin three years ago and was initially expected to be published last year.

We have been expecting the report for so long and are relieved that it is coming to the government at last Margaret Urwin Justice for the Forgotten

Mr Justice Henry Barron's report will go before the Irish Government's joint committee on justice.

Ten years ago the Ulster Volunteer Force admitted it was responsible, but many of the relatives believe the UVF was helped by British intelligence services aiming to warn the Irish Government not to interfere in Northern Ireland.

The report was expected to examine those claims and criticism of the garda investigation.

The bombings took place while Protestant workers held a general strike in Northern Ireland to bring down the power-sharing government set up under the Sunningdale Agreement.

'Relief'

While the contents will not be published until the government has examined it, the victims' group Justice for the Forgotten is urging the government not to delay.

Group spokeswoman Margaret Urwin said: "We have been expecting the report for so long and are relieved that it is coming to the government at last.

"Once the government has it, it's a big step forward.

"Now we are calling on the government to publish the findings as quickly as possible. We don't want it to be held unduly by the government."