Commission of Investigation: Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974 - Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference of the Commission of Investigation are:

To undertake a thorough investigation and make a report on the following specific matters considered by the Government to be of significant public concern.

• Why the Garda investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings was wound down in 1974?

• Why the Gardaí did not follow-up on the following leads:
  • information that a white van, with an English registration plate, was parked outside the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in Portland Row and was later seen parked in the deep sea area of the B & I ferry port in Dublin, and the subsequent contact made with a British Army officer on a ferry boat leaving that port;
  • information relating to a man who stayed in the Four Courts Hotel, Dublin between May 15 and May 17, 1974 and his contacts with the UVF;
  • information concerning a British Army corporal allegedly sighted in Dublin at the time of the bombings.

• In relation to the missing documentation:
  • the exact documentation (Departmental, Garda intelligence and any other documentation of relevance) that is unaccounted for;
  • the reasons explaining why the documentation went missing;
  • whether the missing documentation can now be located.
  • whether the systems currently in place are adequate to prevent a re-occurrence of such documentation going missing.

• To take account of investigative work already undertaken into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974, including the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry, the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights, Inquest Statements and the Internal Garda Investigation.

• To provide a final report to the Taoiseach not later than six months from the date of establishment of the Commission.