Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The following information in respect of Garda records on the bombing of Belturbet, Co. Cavan in 1972 and violence along the border 1972-75: (a) In view of the fact that it is now 48 years since the blast, can you please provide full records of the Garda investigation into the car bomb in Belturbet on December 28, 1972. (b) Please provide all correspondence between the Garda Commissioner’s Office and the RUC in relation to the Belturbet/Clones/Pettigo bombings on that date. (c) We understand the Garda Commissioner wrote to RUC Assistant Chief Constable in September 1974 in relation to named persons following the 1972 murder of named person. Please provide any subsequent Garda correspondence in relation to these individuals. (d) Please advise us if information on the named persons referred to in the Commissioner’s letter was subsequently provided to the Barron Commission in respect of loyalist paramilitary involvement in cross- border bombings from 1972-1976. (e) From the 2003 Barron Report we understand that an internal Garda memo dated 1 July 1975 requested a named person, a suspect and reportedly a member of the UVF, be interviewed about bombings in Belturbet, Swanlinbar, Pettigo and Clones. Further, on 11 December 1975 An Garda Síochána wrote to RUC Assistant Chief Constable Johnston asking that the named person be interviewed specifically in