A survivor of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings has claimed a commission set up to administer funds to the survivors has been instructed by an Irish government department to hold back lump sum payments to those bereaved and injured in the deadly blasts.
The possible move is due to fears that such payments would mean the fund running out of money too quickly.
Three bombs exploded in Dublin on 17 May 1974, killing 26 people including a pregnant woman.
Ninety minutes later another exploded in the border town of Monaghan killing seven people. Over 200 people were injured, but no one has ever been held accountable for the bombings, although there have been persistent claims of British intelligence collusion with loyalists.
A report by retired Justice Barron found it was possible there was collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and some RUC officers and UDR personnel, but stopped short of saying it was high-level.
Ed O'Neill (34), now a Dublin taxi driver, was horrifically injured along with his elder brother in the 17 May Parnell Street bombing, and their father Eddie killed in the blast.
Ed, who is still receiving treatment for his injuries, told The Star that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has ordered the go-slow: "I've been told that it is likely, but not certain, that the Remembrance Commission would delay paying the lump sum payments to survivors on the basis they do not know how many people will come forward and if they pay out all the lump sum payments now, they would run out of cash.
"This is simply outrageous, intolerable. The amounts are miserly enough but this trickling out will not help those it is meant to help.
"Anyone who is entitled to that money should come forward and claim. It's not our fault the government is prepared to let them die. Survivors need that cash for all manner of medical treatment.
"But they also need it just for a little bit of comfort. Look at Frank Massey, who is in his 80s, and his wife Annie, who is dying of Ephemasema.
"These lump sum payments would go a little way to maybe get them a holiday abroad or something like that."
The Massey's were injured and lost their daughter Anna in the South Leinster Street bombing.
The £2m fund for relatives of victims of the Troubles was set up by the Irish Government in February 2003, as one of the Irish Government's obligations under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The money is distributed through the Remembrance Fund Commission, also set up last year.
The amounts to be paid were in different categories, dependent on either bereavement caused by the blasts or severity of injuries sustained in the no-warning car bomb blasts.
It was aimed at relatives of victims and survivors of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the Dublin and Dundalk bombings in 1972.
In the blasts, which caused the biggest loss of life in one single day in the Troubles, Ed suffered a fractured skull, cheekbone and jaw, had shrapnel in his armpit, his sternum was punctured and he suffered extensive lacerations, as well as losing the hearing in his right ear. He recently had a hearing aid bought for him by the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.
He has so far submitted medical bills concerning his injuries of around £8,000, but suspects the Commission will only pay some of that now, but spread out the rest of the payment over the three year duration of the fund.
Ed added: "I've been told that if the money runs out they will go back and get more, but why not just give the Commission a bigger sum at the start?"
No one was available for comment yesterday (Monday) from the Remembrance Fund Commission, but a Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform source said: "I have no idea where this claim is coming from.
"I have spoken to the people concerned and my understanding is, as it always was, that we want to get the money out as quickly as possible.
"I have no idea and can't imagine someone giving such an instruction. The Commission is meeting this week and will have certain things in front of it, and we will see what it decides upon.
"I don't think the Commission would take such an instruction from the Government to do anything, as it is impartial and it's up to them to make their own decisions as regards to funding.
"They have a budget, and we have told them we want them to spend the money as quickly as possible. So why would we hold it up? I just don't get it.
"I can see why the Commission might hold up payments which are discretionary, but part of their terms is to give out payments to those who have suffered bereavements. There's no reason why that shouldn't happen, when people have applied to them for funding.
"And similarly for medical expenses, there's no reason why the Commission shouldn't pay those. I have no reason to believe the Commission is not going to pay out money as fast as they can."
