McGlinchey family meet with Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson in quest for truth and recovery

The son of Dominic and Mary McGlinchey has met with the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice Matt Carthy TD to discuss the urgent need for the Dublin Government to urgently deal with the legacy of the Troubles.

Dominic McGlinchey attended the meeting on Thursday, February 12 in Leinster House alongside his uncle, Sinn Féin Councillor Sean McGlinchey.

Deputy Carthy hosted the McGlinchey family members with representatives from the NGO Relatives for Justice.

The meeting, which has been described as 'very productive' discussed the urgent need for the Dublin Government to get real on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles and the necessity of statutory provisions being enacted in promotion of truth and accountability on an All-Island basis, not just the North.

Solicitor Ciarán Mulholland, who accompanied the McGlinchey family, stated: “I am very grateful for Deputy Carthy arranging today’s meeting and offering a listening ear to our client in his quest for the truth and recovery. For several years now we have been pleading with the various State agencies to sit down with us - all communications to the Garda Commissioner's office has been ignored and requests for a meeting refused. This is shocking given the revelations into the murders of Mary McGlinchey in Dundalk in 1987 and Dominic McGlinchey in Drogheda in 1994 - suspected British collusion and the Garda investigation files and exhibits vanishing with no enquiries made. No victim should ever be forced by the State to litigate when merely seeking the most basic information - it is not fair or just.

“The Irish State is failing miserably in their obligations as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement to meaningfully promote reconciliation. This is not isolated to the McGlinchey family but all the other victims and survivors throughout Ireland - North and South from Omagh to Dundalk, Monaghan to Dublin, who continue to be ignored and discriminated. These victims are being re-traumatised and denied access to justice.

“The disingenuous sound bites from the Government need to be called out for precisely what they are - it is time for action. All victims must be acknowledge and their journey in truth recovery assisted, particularly when the State hold the answers. I welcome Deputy Carthy for his time and indeed his agreement that Minister O’Callaghan should now extend the McGlinchey family the courtesy of a meeting.”

Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson, Matt Carthy said: “Dominic Óg McGlinchey is seeking truth in relation to the killings of both his parents. He witnessed both the killing of his mother Mary and separately his father Dominic as child. There has never a prosecution in either case. The revelation that files and evidence in relation to the 1987 murder of Mary McGlinchey went missing and concerns that the investigation into the case has been substandard and inadequate must be addressed. As has been done in other cases where families are seeking answers in relation to historic and legacy related killings Minister Jim O’Callaghan should meet with this family as they have requested. In my meeting with the McGlinchey family and representatives of Relatives for Justice I offered my support for their efforts to ensure that proper investigations are completed into both killings.”