Family of Seamus Ludlow granted leave for judicial review

The family of Seamus Ludlow, who was murdered near Dundalk in 1976, have been granted leave for a judicial review against the Irish government in a bid to establish a new commission of investigation into his death.

The High Court in Dublin will now set a date for a full hearing.

Belfast firm KRW Law, representing Mr Ludlow’s family, said the 47-year-old was murdered in “disputed circumstances” at the height of the Troubles and Irish and British governments had failed to conduct a human rights-compliant investigation.

Judge Henry Barron recommended in a 2006 report that two Commissions of Investigation should be established to look into alleged missing documents and the conduct of the investigation by gardaí.

However, Mr Ludlow’s family say they have been advised by the Government that there will be no further commission of investigation.

A separate civil case is being pursued in Belfast courts against the PSNI, the Ministry of Defence and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

KRW’s Gavin Booth told Irish Legal News: “The decision of the court yesterday was a welcome decision but the Irish government has the chance to intervene and give the family the commissions of investigations as promised by Justice Barron without the need for further legal action.

“They have waited ten years from the publication of Barron. The state must discharge their article 2 obligations by completing this process. The family have a legitimate expectation for truth.”