There have been no gun killings in the Republic of Ireland this year for the first time in nearly 60 years. While gangland and terrorist murders have featured regularly in annual statistics due to the Troubles of the 1970s and 1980s, as well as drug-related killings in the 2000s, it is understood the last year when no person was shot dead in the Republic was 1968.
Ministers have ruled out establishing a public inquiry into the IRA's 1974 Birmingham pub bombings. On 21 November 1974, 21 people were killed and 220 injured when bombs were detonated at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs in Birmingham, in an attack widely believed to have been orchestrated by the Provisional IRA. No one has been convicted over the attacks.
Lynch said in his verdict that he was satisfied that soldiers had lost all sense of military discipline and opened fire with intent to kill and that those responsible should hang their heads in shame. But he said the case fell short of the burden of proof. Delay has, in my view, seriously hampered the capacity of the defence to test the veracity and accuracy of the hearsay statements, he said.
It took decades for it to be put together. You have to go back to Father Alec Reid, Father Des Wilson, myself, John Hume and the endeavour to put together an alternative to armed struggle.
