Survivors and relatives of the victims of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings have applied in the High Court in Belfast for further information from British authorities about the attacks.

Belfast firm KRW Law LLP is instructed by 21 of the relatives of the victims of the bombings.

Their court application seeks further information from both the Chief Constable of the PSNI, as the representative of the RUC, and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (SSNIO) regarding the bombings.

The families are hoping to receive disclosures which would substantiate long-standing allegations of collusion between British state forces and the Loyalist paramilitary groups, specifically the UVF and The Glenanne Gang regarding responsible for the bombings.

Solicitor Kevin Winters said: “This application is significant because we cannot push for release of important materials until defences are filed – the legal process can be terribly frustrating for families bereaved in the Conflict so there is an obligation on all of the parties, including ourselves, to try and expedite matters.

“We anticipate the court putting in place a timetable for the next stages of the civil proceedings.”

Margaret Urwin of Justice for the Forgotten added: “For years since the atrocities, we have fought to get the authorities to release all of the archive documents which would help bring closure for the bereaved and injured. We really hope the High Court in Belfast will intervene and make the necessary orders.”