THE families of two teenagers killed in a car bombing in Co Cavan almost 50 years ago have welcomed a "significant" development in the case.
Gardai said they had identified new lines of inquiry into the 1972 Belturbet bombing, which claimed the lives of Geraldine O'Reilly (15) and Patrick Stanley (16).
A car bomb exploded outside Farrelly's Bar and McGowan's Drapery on the main street on December 28 1972, leaving eight other people injured.
Loyalist paramilitaries were blamed.
In a statement yesterday, gardai said a senior officer had been appointed to lead the new probe.
"Following a review of the investigation, An Garda Síochána has identified a number of lines of inquiry.
"A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Ballyconnell Garda Station."
A statement from Justice for the Forgotten said: "We have supported the two families for almost 20 years and, at last, we have this very significant and positive development in the case."
Solicitor Kevin Winters, who acts on behalf on the O'Reilly and Stanley families, said: "I commend the patience and determination of the families in continuing to fight for justice and closure for the loss of their children. This is an extremely positive move by the gardai."
Geraldine was the youngest of seven children and from Drumacon in the Belturbet area. She had completed her group certificate examination the previous June, gaining six honours and intended taking up a career in nursing.
She had come into town with her brother Anthony to get food, and was in a restaurant when the bomb exploded in a car parked opposite.
Patrick, from Clara in Co Offaly, was a keen hurler, footballer and soccer player.
He had applied for a cadetship in the army but was temporarily employed by local businessman Pat Jennings as a helper on a Calor Gas delivery lorry.
On the night of the explosion there had been a problem with the lorry, meaning he and the driver decided to stay in Belturbet overnight. When the bomb exploded, Patrick was in the public phone booth on the main street calling his parents Teresa and Joe to tell them he would not be home.
On the same evening of the Belturbet blast, another loyalist bomb exploded without warning at Clones, Co Monaghan. The town's shopping centre was extensively damaged with a number of passersby left with slight injuries.
While the IRA and UDA denied responsibility for the explosions, loyalist sources told Lost Lives that the UVF was behind the bombings.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin previously described the Belturbet attack as "heinous" and said he would do what he "possibly can" to keep the investigation open.
In 2020, he said he would pursue answers into the bombing with the UK government and authorities in Northern Ireland, adding that the families deserved answers.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact gardaí on 049 9525580, freephone Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or Crimestoppers can be contacted on 1800 250025.
