SEAMUS LUDLOW: HIGH COURT IN DUBLIC GRANTS LEAVE TO HEAR JUDICIAL REVIEW CHALLENGE TO IRISH GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO INVESTIGATE
The family of Seamus Ludlow were today granted leave to apply for a judicial review of the failure of the Irish government to implement a satisfactory investigation into his murder. The High Court in Dublin will now set a date for a full hearing in this application which will seek to hold the role of the Gardai to account in its failings in the investigation of the murder of Seamus Ludlow and the Irish government to implement the recommendations of an independent judicial inquiry.
KRW LAW LLP is instructed by the family of Seamus Ludlow who was murdered in disputed circumstances near Dundalk in 1976.
The Irish and British governments have consistently failed to implement human rights compliant investigatory mechanisms to deal with the Legacy of the Conflict including the murder of Seamus Ludlow. Therefore, as with many other families, the family of Seamus Ludlow have had to have recourse to litigation for the truth, justice and accountability regarding the murder of their loved one. Litigation is being taken in both Dublin and Belfast.
In the North of Ireland, the family of Seamus Ludlow are due to issue civil proceedings against the PSNI (who inherited the responsibilities of the RUC), the MOD and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in an action for damages including collusion and negligence in relation to the death of Seamus Ludlow. This action will force the discovery of evidence which may point to the truth surrounding both the circumstances of the death of Seamus Ludlow and the consistent failure in the cross border investigations subsequently.
In the Republic of Ireland, since KRW LAW LLP have been instructed, representations were made to the Irish government requesting both a meeting and an update in relation to its decision this year not to proceed with Henry Barron’s recommendations for a further Commission of Investigations. The Barron Report on the Murder of Seamus Ludlow made the following recommendations:
“They recommended the establishment of two Commissions of Investigation into the events surrounding the murder of Mr. Ludlow. One commission was to examine the conduct of the Garda investigation and the co-operation with the police in the North and the other was to examine the issues relating to the absence of relevant documentation. To date we note that this recommendations have not been furthered since”.
KRW LAW LLP wrote to both the Minister of Justice and to the Taoiseach asking for them to meet with the family of Seamus Ludlow to discuss the case. The Irish government advised that family that there would be no further Commission of Investigation. The Minister of Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, went against the Recommendations of the most senior judge in the Irish State tasked with examining the murder of Seamus Ludlow. The grant of leave today in Dublin will put further pressure on the authorities in the North in the civil action being to deliver truth, justice and accountability for the family of Seamus Ludlow, 40 years after his death.
ENDS 18 01 2016
Contact:
Gavin Booth
Email: gavin@kevinrwinters.com
KRW LAW LLP
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Belfast
Co Antrim
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