Another name added to the Dublin Bombings Memorial
Another name has been added to the 1974 Dublin Bombings Memorial in Talbot Street.
The memorial commemorates the first 33 victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The families of those killed had been searching for more than 20 years for a memorial to mark their deaths – it was erected in 1997.
Baby Martha O’Neill’s name has been added to the granite memorial by Dublin City Council.
Her father, Edward John O’Neill was one of those killed in the Parnell Street bombing on May 17, 48 years ago, in which two of his sons were seriously injured.
Stillborn
Mr O’Neill’s wife, Martha, was six months pregnant at the time. Three months later, and as a result of the trauma, her baby, Martha, was stillborn at term. Baby Martha was officially recognized as one of the victims of the bombing, appearing in the report of the Government Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974.
Although Mr O’Neill’s name was on the memorial in Rue Talbot (at the junction with Rue d’Amiens), his daughter’s name has only now been added.
Reacting to the news, little Martha’s brother Edward said: “On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the tremendous help given to the family by Dublin City Council in our efforts to get this name inserted. on the monument.
Ireland
Ana Kriégel’s father has passed away
“The past 48 years since our father’s murder and the injuries I and my brother have suffered have been traumatic for us. Now that this has been done, our sister’s name can be seen by everyone and recognized. It was a moving experience that remains with us to this day.
“Martha would have been the baby of the family. She was cheated out of a life. We never saw her grow, flourish, have a career and start her own family. Our father will never be forgotten by us and now, fortunately, the identity of our sister will henceforth be known to all citizens of this country and to every person who passes by the monument. Rest in peace daddy, rest in peace baby Martha.
The addition of the baby’s name was requested by Mrs O’Neill and her family and has been reviewed by the Council’s Memorials and Naming Committee.
Committee chairman, Sinn Féin councilor and former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mícheál Mac Donncha, said: “The committee was unanimous in approving this request and I and my fellow councilors are delighted that Baby Martha’s name now features on the memorial”.