Troubles documentary to have Cork premiere

By Finnian Cox

A Cork premiere of Joe Lee’s new film on the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings has been announced.

Debuting in University College Cork’s Boole theatre on 27 November, the showing of ‘Anatomy of a Massacre’ is open to the public, and will see director Joe Lee and producer Fergus O’Dowd joined by Maragret Urwin and Bernie McNally from the Justice for the Forgotten group.

The bombings, which happened in May of 1974 were a series of three car bombs detonated by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) during Dublin city’s rush hour, followed by a fourth in Monaghan town centre.

The attacks claimed the lives of 35 people and injured 300. 50 years later, Lee’s film is an exploration of the impact of the attacks, and the affected families’ search for justice.

The film features contributions from Justice for the Forgotten, a group formed by those affected by the bombings to campaign for truth and justice in relation to the case.

Their impact is largely in the form of personal interviews, which sees them retelling their perspectives on the fateful day, as well as their lives in the aftermath.

There has not been any arrests or charges made in relation to the attacks since, with the gardai shutting down the investigation just two months later.

Additionally, in what the victims view as another slight, the then Fine Gael- Labour coalition refused to hold a national day of mourning.

At an event marking the anniversary of the outrage, President Michael D. Higgins described the response as “a matter of the most profound regret”.

“It is unacceptable in terms of justice that no one group or institution has been made accountable for these atrocities,” he said.

“The manifest failure of both the British and Irish governments to initiate suitable responses in the aftermath of the attacks has left a legacy that cannot be left unaddressed.”