The inquest into the deaths of six people in the Monaghan bombings of May 17th, 1974 has been formally reopened by the Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell.
Family members of some of the victims gathered in the Coroners Court yesterday to hear the order, which follows a request by the Attorney General, Mr Rory Brady, earlier this month, that the cases be reopened.
Dr Farrell said he had received a "considerable amount of material" relating to the bombings, including Garda documents, reports from the Monaghan coroner, and records, including TV and print media photographs gathered by the Justice for the Forgotten group.
"There are also many statements to consider, then I will be able to indicate if there is a need for other statements before I can proceed to establishing what witnesses I wish to attend. This will all take some time," Dr Farrell said.
The inquests into the Monaghan deaths would be adjourned he said, to be included with the cases of the 26 people killed in bombings in Dublin on the same day as the Monaghan explosions, and the three CIÉ bus workers killed in two separate car-bombings in Dublin in 1972 and 1973.
The findings of the independent report on the case carried out by Mr Justice Barron also needed to be considered, Dr Farrell said.
The Barron report, that investigated whether British forces colluded with the UVF - the group suspected of being responsible for the bombings, is expected to be delivered to the Government in early October.
Speaking outside the court Ms Iris Boyd, whose father Mr Archibald Harper was killed by the Monaghan bombings, said the reopening of the case was "painful" but necessary.
"It's the opening of the can of worms in one way.
"In another it's important that it's gone through, but it will be painful."
Ms Boyd said she could still remember the original inquest in Monaghan in 1974, which had returned a verdict of death by high explosives.
"Twenty nine years is a long time to wait, I'm hopeful it will be investigated fully now, but we'll have to take it as it comes."
Ms Sonia Askin was only two years old when she and her twin sister Sharon lost their father Mr Patrick Askin.
"We have no memory of our father and our brothers were only six or seven at the time," she said.
If it wasn't for the work of Justice for the Forgotten, the bombings would be long forgotten, Ms Askin said, and the Attorney General would never have called for the cases to be reopened.
"It's about time someone in power opened their eyes to what was going on.
"We hope the people who died will get recognition now," Ms Askin added.
Justice for the Forgotten campaign secretary, Mr Margaret Urwin, said the inquests would cast more light on the incidents.
"Some family members don't even know what street their loved ones died on.
"We hope the inquests will establish the last moments of a huge number of victims," said Ms Urwin.
While she was relieved the inquest was reopened, it was a strain for some families.
"I realise the families have mixed feelings, but the most traumatic thing is that it has taken so long - these inquests should have been held in '74 and '75.
"Some of the relatives are quite elderly now and aren't able to travel to Dublin."
Ms Urwin added that she hoped the Government would take a "very short time" to consider the Barron report so that it could be made available to the coroner without delay.
Dr Farrell has adjourned the inquests of all of the bombing victims until November 14th.
