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The Seamus Ludlow Truth and Justice Campaign.

Latest Developments: 15 October 1999 - the Northern Ireland Director of Public Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided to charge none of the four suspects for the murder of Seamus Ludlow....8 December 1999 - Louth County Council gave unanimous support to the Ludlow Family's demand for a public inquiry into the murder of Seamus Ludlow and the subsequent cover-up. 14 June 2000 - Amnesty International's Annual Report 2000 called for a public inquiry in the Seamus Ludlow case..

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17 June 2001 - In an article published by the Sunday Business Post newspaper, Maol Muire Tynan, Political Editor, referred to the Ludlow family's recent unsuccessful meeting with Mr. John O'Donoghue, Minister for Justice. This interesting article also featured an interview with Ludlow family member Jimmy Sharkey:

Jimmy Sharkey, a nephew of the dead man, said his family would not meet the minister again "because he is wasting our time and doesn't want to hear what we have to say". A spokesman for the minister denies the claim.

Sharkey told The Sunday Business Post that a meeting with O'Donoghue last month ended unsatisfactorily and that the minister was "very hostile to us".

"We have met the minister twice: in December 1999 and again on May 23 last," Sharkey said. "At the first meeting, he left the table and went to stare out the window. One of his senior officials had to conclude the meeting. In May, the family took the lead and asked the questions, but he became rather hostile and threw his arms up in the air, closed the file and left the room without saying goodbye."

The Minister for Social Community and Family Affairs, Dermot Ahern, and the other Fianna Fail TD for Louth, Seamus Kirk, remained in the meeting for some time afterwards with the family and their solicitors.

A Department of Justice spokesman said the minister believed the matter should be investigated by a judge and referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee. He said that this course of action "would not prejudice the possibility of a public inquiry if that were then considered necessary".

Responding to the claim that the minister was unsympathetic, the spokesman said that anyone who knows John O'Donoghue would realise this is not "the way he does business."

The murder was considered by the former minister, John Wilson, and the Victims' Commission which recommended that because a file on the case was with the DPP in the North, no proposal should be made which would endanger the prosecution of any guilty party. Now that the DPP has decided not to press charges, Ludlow's relations claim there is no impediment to a public inquiry.

"We are not buying into taking part in the Barron inquiry into the Dublin/Monaghan bombings. This is a completely different case," Sharkey said.

Sharkey insists that the present approach will yield no results: "John O'Donoghue told us he would think about giving us access to the Garda files. We sat for two years waiting to see what he would come up with. This is a waste of time."

See the full Sunday Business Post story.

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13 June 2001 - The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the distinguished human rights group the Irish Council for Civil Liberties took place in Dublin. The following resolution was on the agenda for ICCL's conference. The Ludlow family has long appreciated the support that it has received from ICCL and other human rights groups.

"This AGM supports the campaign by the Ludlow family for a full independent public inquiry into all of the circumstances surrounding the murder of Seamus Ludlow. The lack of a proper investigation into the murder of Seamus Ludlow is a flagrant breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. The family of Seamus Ludlow have had to endure the fact that the names of the killers were known to the Gardai and withheld from them, as well as the persistent refusal of Government to establish a full independent public inquiry. They have a right to know all of the circumstances of the murder of their relative, what happened to him and why. ICCL calls on the Government to establish such an inquiry without further delay."

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31 May 2001 - The following reference to the Ludlow family's 23 May meeting with Irish Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue TD, appeared in Jane Winter's British Irish Rights Watch Director's Report for May 2001:

SEAMUS LUDLOW

On 23^rd May I travelled to Dublin for a meeting with the Minister for Justice, John O’Donoghue, concerning the case of Seamus Ludlow, who was murdered by loyalists 25 years ago near Dundalk. The gang who murdered him included two serving UDR soldiers. Serious questions remain unanswered about the police investigations on both sides of the border. Without any consultation with the family, the Irish government announced that it intended to refer the matter to the private Commission of Inquiry that is currently looking at the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Our meeting was deeply unsatisfactory. I regret to report that the relatives received neither the respect nor the justice that they deserve. I have now taken this matter up personally with the Taoiseach.

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23 May 2001 - The Ludlow family - represented by Kevin Ludlow, Jimmy Sharkey, Michael Donegan and Brendan Larkin - had another fruitless meeting in Dublin with Irish Justice Minister Mr. John O'Donoghue. The family was accompanied by Jane Winter, Director of British Irish Rights Watch (BIRW), London, who came over at two days notice especially to attend the meeting. Also present was the Ludlow family's legal team led by James MacGuill, Dundalk.

The family was saddened that Mr. O'Donoghue, who had called for the meeting himself at short notice, was still not prepared to respond to their call for a public inquiry. Instead, Mr. O'Donoghue sought to persuade the Ludlow family to accept his plan for a private inquiry under Mr. Justice Henry Barron - where the family would have absolutely no access to witnesses or documents - followed up by open hearings of a Joint Oireachtas Committee. He stressed that a public inquiry was still not excluded, but he refused to move toward the Ludlow family's demand for a public inquiry now.

Mr. O'Donoghue stressed that his support for a private inquiry was in line with the recommendations of the Irish Victims' Commissioners' report A Place and a Name, which had called for a private inquiry into the murder of Seamus Ludlow - but, of course, the Ludlow family has never accepted Victims Commissioner John Wilson's proposal.

Mr. O'Donoghue also stated that he could hardly accede to the Ludlow family's demand for a public inquiry when he had already appointed Mr. Justice Henry Barron to look into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The Ludlow family rejected the Minister's attempt to link their case to that of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. They are quite different cases, they argued, and each should be judged separately and on their own merits.

It had been hoped that since the Minister had sought the meeting he would have been more constructive in his ideas for resolving the serious issues that remain. Unfortunately, Mr. O'Donoghue would not even consider the Ludlow family's proposals, taking the view that there was nothing more to talk about and that it was the Ludlow family that was being inflexible and the cause of the stalemate!

The government plan was rejected once more by the Ludlow family. The first stage - the private Barron Inquiry - was rejected because it fell far short of the Ludlow family's demand for a public inquiry. The latter stage - the Joint Oireachtas Committee - was highly criticized, not least because it was proving utterly useless in the ongoing Abbeylara Inquiry into the armed Gardai Emergency Response Unit (ERU) shooting dead of the late John Carthy in County Longford. It was pointed out that the Committee's powers were being daily eroded, since it was facing challenges from the gardai and the Department of Justice and was unable to ask the questions that were necessary to get at the truth. This plan therefore had little in it that could be recommended to the Ludlow family.

For information about the Ludlow family's first unsympathetic meeting, on 8 December 1999, with the Minister for Justice, please go to our Recent Developments page.

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20 May 2001 - Writing in the Sunday Tribune, Catherine Cleary reported that the late Seamus Ludlow's family's solicitor has accused the Dublin government of:

presenting a "veneer of movement" in the face of calls for a public inquiry into the involvement of security forces in his death.

The brother and nephew of the 46-year-old timber worker who was murdered 25 years ago this month attempted to hand a letter to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the cabinet meeting at Ballymascanlan Hotel outside Dundalk.

Kevin Ludlow and nephew Jimmy sharkey presented the letter to Justice Minister John O'Donoghue after they were told the Taoiseach would not be accepting it.

"They want to give a veneer of movement on this," solicitor James MacGuill said last week, describing the official reaction to family calls for a public inquiry. The government was displaying a "dual standard", he said, supporting public inquiries into allegations of security force collusion in murder in Northern Ireland and resisting the same examination of murders in the Republic. . .

Catherine Cleary's report ends:

Meanwhile, a Department of Justice spokesman refused to expand on comments by Justice Minister John O'Donoghue that he was considering allowing access by the families of those murdered in the troubles to the investigation files.

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15 May 2001 - This press release was issued by Mr. Bernard Moffatt, Chairman of the Celtic League organization. Mr. Moffatt reports a response to the letter he wrote to Irish government minister Dermot Ahern TD on 30 April 2001:

CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION

MINISTER EVASIVE ON LUDLOW QUERY

Dermot Ahern T.D., Irish Social Affairs Minister has sidestepped a query from the Celtic League about the controversy surrounding the murder of Co. Louth forestry worker, Seamus Ludlow.

Mr. Ludlow was murdered on the 2nd of May 1976. It is believed that his killers were a loyalist murder gang and there is also a suspicion of complicity by the British security forces.

Recently, following a demonstration to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder Mr. Ahern reiterated the governments unwillingness to accede to the families request for an independent public enquiry. The League had written challenging this inertia and urging a rethink. However, in a reply from the Ministers Office, his Private Secretary Aongus Horgan says that " As this matter is proper to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister has passed your letter to his colleague, John O'Donoghue T.D., Minister for Justice.

The Celtic League have a great deal of respect for Mr. Ahern particularly in relation to assistance and cooperation he has shown in the past. However, to intervene with public comment which coincided with relatives attempts to highlight the inertia over the Ludlow slaying and then sidestep the issue indicates questionable judgement in this matter.

It is high time that all government Ministers from the Taoiseach down adopted a more positive stance in relation to uncovering the truth about British military involvement in the murder of Irish citizens peacefully going about their business.

Bernard Moffatt

Celtic League

15/05/01

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries of the
western British Isles and Brittany. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It targets human rights abuse and monitors all military activity within these areas.

TEL (UK)01624 627128 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/index.html

news site at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league

b.moffatt@advsys.co

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14 May 2001 - The Ludlow family pass a letter to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at Ballymascanlan Hotel, just 300 metres from the site of Seamus Ludlow's murder in May 1976. Mr. Ahern and his cabinet were at Ballymascanlan for a special cabinet meeting. The letter was accepted by John O'Donoghue, Minister for Justice.

The Ludlow family's letter reiterated the demand for a public inquiry as well as the request for a family meeting with Mr. Ahern. The Ludlow family deputation included Kevin Ludlow, Mrs. Nan Sharkey, Mrs. Eileen Fox (respectively brother and sisters of the late Seamus Ludlow), Jimmy Sharkey and Brendan Larkin (nephews).

Joined by members of the Watters and Rooney families of Dundalk, who lost loved ones in the Loyalist bombing at Crowe Street in December 1975, the Ludlow family group was courteously received by the Taoiseach's Secretary, though they did not meet with Mr. Ahern himself.

A press release was issued to the assembled press, radio and TV journalists: including the local LMFM Radio which featured a short interview with Jimmy Sharkey in that evening's news bulletin.

Margaret English, a daughter of the late Hugh Watters, a victim of the Dundalk bombing, of 19 December 1975, accompanied members of the Ludlow family when they went to Ballymascanlan Hotel to hand in letters to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Margaret English, daughter of the late Hugh Watters, seen at extreme left of photograph, accompanies members of the Ludlow family (l-r) Nan Sharkey, Kevin Ludlow, Eileen Fox, Brendan Larkin and Jimmy Sharkey, as they arrive at Ballymascanlan Hotel to hand in letters to the Irish Government.

In their letter to Bertie Ahern, the families of the late Hugh Watters and Jack Rooney said:

"The above case is being dealt with by Judge Henry Barron. We had hoped it would be moving along a lot faster, after a long 25 years. We are extremely disappointed that you have not met with us, although you have met with the families of Robert Hamill and many others.

"All we want is fair play and justice. Therefore we would greatly appreciate if you could take some time to meet with us."

Margaret English told the Dundalk Democrat (19 May 2001): "We were waiting at Ballymascanlan Hotel to meet the ministers and it was hard to believe that we have to stand up to get something done for our fathers to get justice. This should be done automatically." She continued: "My father led a quiet life, but I will speak out for justice for him."

See also the website for the Rooney and Watters families' Dundalk Bombings campaign.

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4 May 2001 - A new website for Relatives for Justice.

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3 May 2001 - Irish Organizations United, one of the groups actively supporting the Ludlow family in the United States, has added a second page to its website featuring a report of the successful Seamus Ludlow 25th Anniversary Commemoration of 29 April.

The new page can be accessed at http://celticj1.tripod.com/IOU/ludlow/ludlow2.html

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2 May 2001 - Journalist Ed Moloney, Northern Editor of the Sunday Tribune newspaper, was interviewed live for several minutes on the local radio LMFM programme Loose Talk, at 10.45am. During this interview Mr. Moloney spoke at length about the murder of Seamus Ludlow and the subsequent cover-up. He also spoke about the recent referral of the RUC's handling of the investigation to Nuala O'Loan, the North's new Police Ombudsman. An edited account of this interview can be access on another page by clicking on the link above.

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30 April 2001 - The following statement was issued by Mr. Bernard Moffatt, Chairman of the Celtic League organization. This was the most recent in a series of helpful interventions made by Mr. Moffatt and the Celtic League in support of the Ludlow family's demands:

CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION

LUDLOW - GOVT URGED TO HEED ENQUIRY CALL

The Celtic league has re-iterated its support for calls by the family of a Co. Louth man murdered 25 years for a public enquiry into the circumstances of his killing

Seamus Ludlow was a 47-year-old forestry worker from Thistlecross, Mountpleasant, near Dundalk who was murdered on the 2nd of May 1976.

It is believed his killing was a case of mistaken identity and that his killers were a loyalist murder gang, at that time operating in the Armagh border area of N. Ireland.

There is also a strong suspicion of complicity in the killing by the British security forces, who it is alleged were using murder gangs in the north at the time. The use of such irregular forces was based on a counter insurgency theory developed by Frank Kitson an intelligence officer with the British Army.

In January the Minister for Justice, John O'Donoghue, indicated in correspondence to the Celtic League that he was considering ways of meeting the Ludlow families concerns. The Irish government had proposed a private enquiry headed by a senior judicial figure. This was rejected by the Ludlow family.

In correspondence (attached) to government Minister Dermot Ahern, who is also a Louth TD, the League urge a rethink.

Bernard Moffatt

Celtic League

30/04/01

The Minister for Social, Community & Family Affairs

Mr. Dermot Ahern TD

Office of the Minister

Store Street

Dublin 1

Ireland
30/04/01

Dear Minister,

We write with reference to the unresolved murder of Seamus Ludlow. The Celtic League have supported the call of the Ludlow family for an independent public enquiry into this matter and indeed we wrote to An Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice and the Secretary of State for N. Ireland on this issue recently (encl.).

The League understand that recently a demonstration to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder was held by family and friends and that prior to this you reiterated the governments unwillingness to establish such an enquiry. It was disappointing to hear this.

In January the Minister for Justice did seem to indicate, in correspondence to us (encl.), that a formula acceptable to the Ludlow family would be found. One of the most positive aspects of the British-Irish peace process is the willingness amongst all sections of the community to confront uncomfortable truths. I do not believe that the British Security
Services, however much they might wish it, are immune from that process.

There have for many years been suspicions about the operation of clandestine military units and their utilisation of loyalist paramilitary groups. Indeed there is currently a furore in the media in the north of Ireland because of attempts by UTV to highlight the activities of such groups.

It is only a full independent enquiry, such as the Ludlow family
are seeking, which can expose the truth. I do hope that the Irish
government will reconsider its stance.

Yours sincerely,

J B Moffatt

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries of the
western British Isles and Brittany. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It targets human rights abuse and monitors all military activity within these areas.

TEL (UK)01624 627128 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/index.html

news site at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league

b.moffatt@advsys.co

See the Celtic League's follow-up of 15 May 2001 regarding Mr Ahern's response.

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29 April 2001 - The Ludlow family's commemoration marking the late Seamus Ludlow's 25th anniversary at the place of his murder was a major success.

A gathering numbering 200 to 300 people helped the Ludlow family honour the memory of the innocent man who was murdered there in 1976. People came from far and wide: Dundalk, Dublin, Belfast, Derry, Cavan, Monaghan, and the local south Armagh and north Louth district to witness the laying of wreaths at the memorial and to hear addresses by members of the Ludlow family and special guest speakers.

The attendance included members of Justice for the Forgotten, representing the families of victims and survivors of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, as well as the Watters and Rooney families, relatives of the victims of the Dundalk bombing of 19 December 1975.

Also present were relatives of the late Patrick Mohan, a victim of the Castleblaney bombing of March 1976. The Ludlow family was also pleased to be joined by members of the McAnespie family from Aughnacloy and the Drumm family from Belfast who also lost loved ones at the hands of British state forces or loyalist murder gangs.

Guest speakers included journalist Ed Moloney and Monsignor Raymond Murray. Prayers were led by Father Brian McCreesh. Also present was Mr. Paul O'Connor, Pat Finucane Centre, Derry, and Mr. Seamus Kirk, TD County Louth, who are both valued supporters of the Ludlow family in their demand for a public inquiry.

Ed Moloney's address

I WANT FIRST OF ALL TO THANK JIMMY, KEVIN AND MICHAEL FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK HERE TO MARK THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEAMUS LUDLOW'S DEATH.

I DON'T NORMALLY MAKE PUBLIC SPEECHES ABOUT ARTICLES I AND OTHER JOURNALISTS HAVE WRITTEN BUT AFTER CAREFUL THOUGHT I CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO BREAK THAT RULE IN THE CASE OF SEAMUS LUDLOW.

AS WE ALL KNOW TWENTY-FIVE LONG YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THAT DREADFUL NIGHT WHEN HE WAS SHOT AND DUMPED IN THIS SMALL LANEWAY BUT SEAMUS LUDLOW'S FAMILY ARE NO NEARER GETTING THE TRUTH AND JUSTICE THEY DESERVE THAN THEY WERE THEN.

WE DO HOWEVER KNOW A GREAT DEAL MORE ABOUT THE EVENTS OF THAT NIGHT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE KNOW THE NAME OF THE LOYALIST KILLER WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER;

WE KNOW WHY HE WAS IN CO LOUTH THAT NIGHT AND WHO WAS WITH HIM;

WE KNOW THAT THE GARDAI KNEW ALL THIS NOT LONG AFTER SEAMUS LUDLOW WAS KILLED;

WE KNOW THAT THE RUC SPECIAL BRANCH HAD THIS INFORMATION AS WELL; AND WE KNOW THAT THE AUTHORITIES IN THIS STATE BEHAVED DISGRACEFULLY TO THE LUDLOW FAMILY.

WE KNOW THAT THEY LIED TO AND MISLED THE FAMILY ABOUT WHO KILLED THEIR BROTHER AND UNCLE.

WE KNOW THAT THEY CRUELLY, DELIBERATELY DIVIDED THE LUDLOW'S, PITCHING SIBLING AGAINST SIBLING, COUSIN AGAINST COUSIN FOR THE BEST PART OF TWO DECADES, YEARS THAT CAN NEVER BE RECOVERED.

WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF SEAMUS LUDLOW'S DEATH TO SUSPECT THAT ALL THIS WAS DONE, ALL THESE LIES AND DECEPTIONS PERPETRATED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE GUNMAN WHO KILLED SEAMUS LUDLOW AND TO COVER UP THE COVER UP BOTH IN THE NORTH AND IN THIS JURISDICTION.

WHAT MADE THIS MAN SO SPECIAL THAT FOR YEARS NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AGAINST HIM AND SO MANY LIES TOLD TO PROTECT HIM?

WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT TO ASK THAT THE STATE SHOULD FORMALLY AND PUBLICLY THROW OPEN ITS SECRET FILES SO THAT AT LAST THE LUDLOW FAMILY CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND.

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK THESE DAYS THERE ARE PUBLIC TRIBUNALS AND JUDICIAL INQUIRIES MANY OF THEM DESIGNED TO LAY TO REST GHOSTS OF THE NORTHERN CONFLICT.

THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS JURISDICTION HAS BEEN TO THE FORE IN PRESSING THE BRITISH TO SWEEP THE SKELETONS OUT OF THEIR CUPBOARDS BUT WHAT ABOUT THEIR SKELETONS?

WHAT HAS THE LUDLOW FAMILY BEEN OFFERED?

A SECRET, PRIVATE INVESTIGATION WHOSE DELIBERATIONS, UNLIKE THOSE IN THE GUILDHALL OR IN DUBLIN CASTLE WILL BE KEPT FROM PUBLIC VIEW AND SCRUTINY AND WHOSE OUTCOME MAY OR MAY NOT BE FOLLOWED UP. AN INQUIRY INTO WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE AN INQUIRY IN OTHER WORDS.

HOW CAN IT BE RIGHT TO DEMAND FROM THE BRITISH THAT THEY COME CLEAN ABOUT THEIR MISDEEDS TOWARDS CITIZENS IN THE NORTH YET DENY THE SAME RIGHTS TO THEIR OWN CITIZENS?

WHY ARE THEY SO FRIGHTENED OF THE SECRET, HIDDEN STORY OF SEAMUS LUDLOW'S DEATH? IF, TRULY, THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE, NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF, THEN COME OUT IN THE OPEN AND SHOW EVERYONE. ONLY THE GUILTY SKULK IN DARK CORNERS. THE INNOCENT CRY OUT FOR THE LIGHT.

ITS TIME WE WERE TOLD THE TRUTH.

The Ludlow family extends its sincerest thanks to all who attended this commemoration, those who travelled long distances to be here: particularly Ed Moloney, Monsignor Raymond Murray, Father Brian McCreesh, and all who helped in any way to make this day a great success.

For further information go to our 25th Anniversary page. See also Ed Moloney's interview with LMFM radio on 2 May 2001.

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27 April 2001 - The Irish independent TV3 news featured a report on the Seamus Ludlow case and the weekend's 25th anniversary commemoration. Ludlow family members Kevin Ludlow and Jimmy Sharkey and Ludlow family solicitor James MacGuill, Dundalk, were interviewed. Kevin and Jimmy renewed the call for a public inquiry and the need to bring closure to this 25 years long injustice.

The Irish government's case was put by Minister Dermot Ahern, TD, himself from Dundalk, who stated that "in this age of transparency" the Irish government had nothing to hide.

The Ludlow family would of course argue that there is nothing transparent in the Dublin government's long delayed decision on a public inquiry or about the Taoiseach's failure to meet with the Ludlow family, or even to acknowledge several written requests for such a meeting.

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26 April 2001 - The following press release was issued by the Ludlow family:

Seamus Ludlow Commemoration.

The Ludlow family will be holding a commemoration for the 25th anniversary of innocent murder victim Seamus Ludlow in County Louth on Sunday 29th. April, 2001, at 4.00pm.

Seamus Ludlow (47), a Catholic bachelor, was abducted by Loyalist killers after leaving a Dundalk bar around midnight on 1st May 1976. He was taken to a lane less than a mile from his Thistlecross, Mountpleasant home, shot three times while still sitting in the back of a car, and his body was thrown like a dog upon a grassy bank.

For 25 years the Ludlow family has been searching for the truth, amid false claims that the victim was shot by the IRA because he was an informer and that members of his family were involved. These lies, spread by elements within the gardai and the British Army, were finally laid to rest in February 1998 when the RUC arrested four Loyalists from the Comber/Newtownards area of County Down. The suspects included three former members of the Red Hand Commando murder gang, of whom two were also members of the UDR at the time of the killing of Seamus Ludlow. One of the suspects was actually a Captain in that regiment.

A fourth man, known to have been a 19 year old member of the UDA at the time of Seamus Ludlow's murder, admits to have been a witness rather than a participant in the crime. He claims that he was first questioned about this matter as far back as 1987, when an RUC Special Branch detective instructed him to say no more about the case, because it was political. The man has claimed that the RUC seemed to have known the whole story all along.

It has now emerged that the RUC passed a file on at least three of the prime suspects in this crime, to detectives of the garda murder squad from Dublin, in 1979. Neither the RUC nor the garda acted upon this file, nor were any of the suspects arrested until 1998. Files gathered dust in Belfast and in Dublin, while Seamus Ludlow's killers were free to kill again and again.

The Ludlow family is appalled that the RUC and the garda should have covered up vital information which protected the loyalist killers from justice. This cover-up continued alongside a smear campaign against the innocent victim and his family for some 23 years. The Ludlow family has thus demanded public inquiries into the garda and RUC's role in this cover-up and smear campaign and the protection of Loyalist killers.

The Ludlow family's commemoration will take place at the memorial in the lane, off the Bog Road, in the vicinity of Ballymascanlan Hotel, north of Dundalk, where this sectarian murder was committed on the night of 1st/2nd May 1976. Speakers will include journalist Ed Moloney, Kevin Ludlow, the only living brother of the victim, and other members of the Ludlow family. Prayers will be led by Monsignor Raymond Murray and Father Brian McCreesh.

Wreaths will be laid by the Ludlow family, as well as families of victims from the Dublin, Monaghan, Dundalk and Castleblaney bombing atrocities.

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13 April 2001 - In a letter to the Ludlow family's solicitor, Nuala O'Loan, the North's new Police Ombudsman, replying to the solicitor's letter of 9 April, said that "on initial examination" the Seamus Ludlow murder "is outside my remit because of the length of time that has elapsed since the murder. However, I am making preliminary enquiries about when the police investigation terminated".

However, on 4 October 2001, the Police Ombudsman reported on the murder of Derryman Samuel Devenny, who was brutally beaten by the RUC in 1969, a full seven years before the murder of Seamus Ludlow. Mr. Devenny died three months after his cruel beating by several RUC members in his own living room. No RUC officer was ever brought to justice for this savage attack.

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SUPPORT THE SEAMUS LUDLOW APPEAL FUND

Bank of Ireland

78 Clanbrassil Street

Dundalk

County Louth

Ireland

Account No. 70037984

Thank You.

Please use one of these e-mail links to reach the Ludlow family:
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