OIFIG AN AIRE GNOTHAI EACHTRACHA
(OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS)
BAILE ATHA CLIATH 2
(DUBLIN 2)
Mr. Cormac Boomer
36 Riverdale Park North
Belfast BT11 9DL
January 2001
Our Ref: CON000345
Dear Mr Boomer.
On behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Brian Cowan T.D.. I am writing with reference to your letter of 30 November, received on 12 December 2000 about the disappearance of your son Desmond in 1995.
The Minister is aware that the report of the Board of Inquiry established by the Maltese Government into the accident in which aircraft 9HABU was involved makes no mention of any evidence that your son was aboard when it took off from Djerba, Tunisia for Malta on 3 December 1995. He appreciates your desire, and that of Mrs. Mandy Boomer for conclusive evidence regarding how your son disappeared and he would like to be able to help you.
During his visit to Malta earlier this month the Taoiseach. Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D. asked the Maltese authorities whether there was anything else they could do to assist your family to establish what happened to Desmond. There was no further advice nor assistance the Maltese authorities could offer.
With regard to your request that the Irish Government seek an independent judicial inquiry the Minister considers that such a move would imply a lack of confidence in the report of the Board of Inquiry and that as a serious implication of that nature would be likely to damage our relations with Malta it would not be in Ireland's overall interest to accede to your request. He is sorry that there is no other appropriate action open to the Irish Government.
The minister has asked me to suggest that you consider taking legal advice as to the possibility of challenging in the Maltese courts what you see as omissions from the matters investigated by the Board of Inquiry or shortcomings in its procedures or its report.
Yours sincerely .
Breifne O'Reilly
Private Secretary