Irish publish bombings report

Justice Barron, right, produced the report for the Irish Government

A report into bomb attacks in the Irish Republic more than 30 years ago has been published by the Irish Government.

The report, published on Wednesday, deals with bombings in Dublin in 1972 and 1973, a bomb attack in Belturbet, County Cavan in 1972, three murders and other incidents

Mr Justice Henry Barron concluded that he was "surprised and disappointed" by "the failure of the British authorities" to co-operate with his inquiry.

Three people died and 185 people were injured in the three Dublin bombings in November 1972, December 1972 and January 1973, while two teenagers died in the Belturbet car bomb attack in December 1972.

'Political climate'

Sean Ardagh, the chairman of the Dail's justice committee, said they would consider the issues raised in the report.

"The first item is the cooperation that he received from the Irish Government, and the cooperation that he perhaps didn't receive from the British authorities," he said.

"We'll be considering the political climate of the day and its effect on the circumstances surrounding the bombings. "

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said: "This report sheds further light on terrible events in Dublin and the border region at a very dark time in our history."

Mr Ahern said he hoped the publication "helps the healing process for relatives and victims of these atrocities, who for many years have been forgotten".

Mr Justice Barron, a former judge, had previously carried out an investigation into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which was published last year.