“Today we remember the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

It was forty seven years ago today that three bombs exploded around Dublin in the busy evening rush hour. Another bomb exploded about 90 minutes later in Monaghan Town. These ruthless bombings were the greatest loss of life in a single day of the troubles and showed a complete disregard for human life.

Unfortunately, as was the case last year, it is not possible to hold a comprehensive remembrance ceremony this year, but we must still use this day to remember all those who lost their lives in the bombings, those who were injured, and all those affected by the bombs. Such a large scale tragic loss of life continues to affect countless families.

The Government is fully committed to seek out the truth behind those events and, hopefully, to secure some measure of comfort for the victim’s families and the survivors.

We will continue in our work to develop and establish effective ways to address the legacy of the troubles, including implementation of measures agreed in the Stormont House Agreement, so as to meet the legitimate needs and expectations of all victims and survivors.

As we strive to make progress to a better future for all who share this island, we must not forget all of those who died in the violence of the troubles, those who mourn them and those who were injured.”

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