Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has tabled an adjournment motion in the Dáil calling on the state to apologise to the families of the Ballymanus mine disaster.
Deputy Doherty claims the state acted with negligence and as a result of its failure to carry out its duties, directly contributed to the loss of 19 lives in West Donegal in 1943.
The disaster was the worst event to take place in the state during World War II, killing 19 young men from the Mullaghduff area of West Donegal, and injuring four others.
Those that lost their lives on that day ranged from 14 to 34 years of age, with some households losing more than one member and one family who lost three of their sons.
The disaster happened on the evening of the 10th of May 1943, when a mine washed ashore at Ballymanus and a crowd of young people gathered to watch the event.
The mine exploded at 10pm that day leaving a trail of destruction that struck right at the heart of the Gaeltacht area.
Deputy Doherty said the events of that day are still to the fore in the minds of many from Mullaghduff and the surrounding areas, and in particular in the minds of the relatives of the victims of the tragedy.
“Sixty eight years on they continue to campaign for Justice for their loved ones and request that the State its self shoulders some of the responsibility.
“Having met with one of the family members and having had the matter raised in the Dáil through my party colleagues in 2008 with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, I am tabling an adjournment motion in the Dáil this week calling on the State to apologies to the families of the victims.
“It is clear from detailed research the has been done that the Garda Sergeant at the time contravened clear protocol and instructions from Garda Headquarters on how to deal with the reporting of a mine coming ashore.
“Despite the fact that the mine was reported to the Gardaí at 6.45pm over three hours before the explosion the Garda Sergeant did not attend the scene or didn’t cordon off the area in clear contradiction of the written instruction sent to every Garda Sergeant in the state.
“The written instruction stated “Whenever a report of an explosive article has been washed ashore is received at any Garda station, the member in charge will immediately take such steps as is necessary to ensure that no one approaches to within 500 yards of the article.”
“Other documents that have recently been uncovered have disclosed that the decision not to hold an inquiry into the events at Ballymanus was taken by the Minister for Justice on the 18th of May. Despite claims prior to this that it was the families who nearly a week later on the 24th of May decided not to have an inquiry.
“It is my view that the state at the highest level suppressed the facts of what happened on that day. The families and the wider community at the very least deserve an apology from the State.
“My motion will allow this new government the opportunity to do this. It was the Taoiseach who said in the Dáil on the day of his election as Taoiseach that “As Taoiseach, it will be my privilege to be open and truthful with the Irish people … The new Government will tell the people the truth regardless of how unwelcome or difficult that might be.”
“I hope that this government will live up to that statement this week,” said Deputy Doherty
ENDS
