I was invited by the Department Of Foreign Affairs, Dublin, in February 2023, to view all the documents listed below.
I was accompanied to the meeting by my partner Marie Hillock, so that we could share the load of reviewing the documents. We were not allowed to take our phones into the meeting and we were also forbidden from taking any notes. We were accompanied at all times by members of staff.
We were treated with the greatest of respect during our meeting and Emily and her staff were very helpful at all times.
Sadly, there was nothing of any real interest in the documents that we reviewed.
When discussing this on our way home after the meeting, we both felt that based on the communications we reviewed, that this looked like nothing more than an administrative exercise between governments. There was no evidence that the Irish government made any genuine effort to assist in the search for the missing men or to provide support to my parents in their search for their missing son.
Schedule Part 2
Years 1998 - 2003
| No | Date | Doc Name | Description | FOI Status | Section exempted under | Number of Pages | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33a | 16 Dec 1997 | 971216 | Letter from a Mr. Salem | Refused | S37 (1) | No Document Available | |
| 1 | 21 Apr 1998 | 980421 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 2 | 30 May 1998 | 980530 | Press cuttings on the case ‘Territorial rights’ and ‘George Vella seeks cooperation with Tunisia’ | Granted | 1 | Click To View Document | |
| 3 | 01 Jun 1998 | 980601 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Consular Services | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 4 | 03 Jun 1998 | 980603 | Internal Consular Services Note asking about follow up with the Tunisian authorities | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 5 | 05 Jun 1998 | 980605 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome asking about the next sitting of the Inquiry and what the next steps would be | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 6 | 09 Jun 1998 | 980609 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services enclosing a note of call with Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming that Tunisia had agreed to release the tapes to Malta and once received and analysed the final inquiry would take place. This was likely to be autumn. | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 7 | 15 Jun 1998 | 980615 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Ms. Mandy Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 8 | 15 Jun 1998 | 980615 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 9 | 19 Jun 1998 | 980619 | Correspondence from Embassy Madrid to Consular Services enclosing Note from British Embassy Tunis on the case noting no major developments | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 10 | 07 Jul 1998 | 980707 | Correspondence from Ms. Cormac Boomer to Consular Services | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 11 | 08 Sep 1998 | 980908 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome asking for an update from the Maltese authorities | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 12 | 25 Sep 1998 | 980925 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Consular Services enclosing a letter to Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs (no attachment with document) | Refused | S37 (1) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 12a | 25 Sep 1998 | 980925 | Letter from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs | Refused | S37 (1) | No Document Available | |
| 13 | 06 Oct 1998 | 981006 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services confirming follow up with the authorities and that the Tunisian authorities had agreed to release them to the laboratory in France where they would be heard | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 14 | 06 Oct 1998 | 981006 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Mr. Cormac Boomer relaying the information received from Embassy Rome | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 15 | 16 Oct 1998 | 981016 | Correspondence from Embassy Madrid to Consular Services and Embassy Rome relaying information that the Tunisian authorities had agreed to release the tapes to France, no date had been set | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 16 | 03 Dec 1998 | 981203 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services confirming that the Tunisian authorities handed over a copy of the tapes on 27.11.98 to the Maltese Foreign Ministry and that they have been given to the President of the Board of Inquiry | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 33c | 04 Dec 1998 | 981204 | Article ‘Questions on the Piper Lance’ | Granted | Click To View Document | ||
| 17 | 07 Dec 1998 | 981207 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome asking on behalf of Ms. Mandy Boomer whether the tapes would be checked and in which country | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 18 | 07 Dec 1998 | 981207 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 22c | 07 Dec 1998 | 981207 | Letter from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Maltese Minister of Transport | Refused | S37 (1) | No Document Available | |
| 19 | 15 Dec 1998 | 981215 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services confirming that the Board of Inquiry would be examining the tapes, not in France, but that the timeline was unclear | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 20 | 15 Dec 1998 | 981215 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome reporting on conversations with Ms. Mandy Boomer and Mr. Cormac Boomer who were of the view that the tapes should be expertly examined | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 22a | 01 Jan 1999 | 990101 | Letter from Mr. Cormac Boomer to the Tunisian Ambassador to Malta | Refused | S37 (1) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 22b | 10 Jan 1999 | 990110 | Sunday Times article, ‘Still waiting for those tapes’ | Granted | 1 | Click To View Document | |
| 21 | 12 Jan 1999 | 990112 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Embassy Madrid providing an update on the case ahead of the Ambassador’s visit to Tunisia. Embassy Rome confirmed the tapes had been handed over to the Board of Inquiry, which would travel to France to hear them. | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 22 | 16 Jan 1999 | 990116 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Consular Services enclosing Correspondence to Maltese Ministry of Transport, Press Cutting and Correspondence to Tunisian Ambassador to Malta | Refused | S37 (1) | 9 | No Document Available |
| 23 | 20 Jan 1999 | 990120 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 24 | 15 Feb 1999 | 990215 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome informing the Embassy that Ms. Mandy Boomer and Mr. Cormac Boomer had phoned to say that they believed the tapes had been examined at Farnborough. Asked Embassy for any information. | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 25 | 23 Feb 1999 | 990223 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services confirming that they had written to the Maltese Foreign Ministry for information | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 41a | 08 Mar 1999 | 990308 | Air Accidents Investigation Branch Report | Granted | 4 | Click To View Document | |
| 26 | 06 Apr 1999 | 990406 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome enclosing correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer asking if the Honorary Consul could attend the final sitting of the Inquiry in April | Refused | S33 2 (b); S 37 (1) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 27 | 08 Apr 1999 | 990408 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services enclosing correspondence from Honorary Consul of Ireland, Malta confirming that he would attend the sitting of the Inquiry | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 28 | 14 Apr 1999 | 990414 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 29 | 23 Apr 1999 | 990423 | Press cuttings | Granted | 3 | Click To View Document | |
| 30 | 26 Apr 1999 | 990426 | Correspondence from Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta to Consular Services attaching a report on the hearing and confirming further adjournment | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 5 | No Document Available |
| 30a | 26 Apr 1999 | 990426 | Report from Honorary Consul to Consular Services on the Inquiry sitting, which Mr. Cormac and Ms. Boomer attended. The Honorary Consul reported on the sitting including the tapes which were played and noting the comments by witnesses on the plane’s safety and comments made by Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 4 | No Document Available |
| 31 | 29 Apr 1999 | 990429 | Correspondence to Embassy Rome from Consular Services enclosing correspondence from Ms. Mandy Boomer (document 31a) and asking for the Embassy and Honorary Consul to follow up on the questions asked | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 31a | 29 Apr 1999 | 990429 | Letter from Ms. Mandy Boomer to Consular Services | Refused | S37 (1) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 32 | 19 May 1999 | 990519 | Documents provided to Consular Services by Mr & Mrs Boomer at a meeting with Consular Services including: | Refused | S37 (1) | 16 | No Document Available |
| 33b | 24 May 1999 | 990524 | Article ‘the Shadow of Djerba’ | Granted | Click To View Document | ||
| 33 | 27 May 1999 | 990527 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Consular Services and enclosures | Refused | S37 (1) | 12 | No Document Available |
| 34 | 02 Jun 1999 | 990602 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 35 | 11 Jun 1999 | 990611 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services enclosing Note from Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs informing of the next sitting of the Board of Inquiry- 24/06/1999 | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 36 | 18 Jun 1999 | 990618 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 37 | 21 Jun 1999 | 990621 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Consular Services enclosing an affidavit from Mr. Geoff Williams | Refused | S37 (1) | 4 | No Document Available |
| 38 | 25 Jun 1999 | 990625 | Correspondence of document 37 forwarded by Consular Services to Embassy Rome | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 41e | 26 Jun 1999 | 990626 | Press cutting | Granted | 1 | Click To View Document | |
| 39 | 01 Jul 1999 | 990701 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services enclosing a note from the Honorary Consul and a press cutting outlining a 3 week deadline for any final submissions to the Inquiry | Part-Granted | S33 2 (b) | 3 | Click To View Document |
| 44 | 01 Jul 1999 | 990701 | First Draft of letter from Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland to the Maltese Minister for Transport | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 41d | 09 Jul 1999 | 990709 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer to the Chairman of the Board of Enquiry | Refused | S37 (1) | 5 | No Document Available |
| 41b | 12 Jul 1999 | 990712 | Correspondence from Ms. Pellegrini Petit to the Board of Enquiry | Refused | S37 (1) | 6 | No Document Available |
| 41c | 15 Jul 1999 | 990715 | Correspondence from Mr. Williams to the Board of Enquiry | Refused | S37 (1) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 41 | 20 Jul 1999 | 990720 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer on the sitting in July and referring to documents enclosed | Refused | S37 (1) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 40 | 24 Jul 1999 | 990724 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome noting Mr. Cormac Boomer’s dissatisfaction with the Board of Inquiry and his wish that the Board not conclude without covering the outstanding issues as he saw them. Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome included a draft letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Minister of Transport | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 4 | No Document Available |
| 42 | 28 Jul 1999 | 990728 | Correspondence from Farrugia and Associates Law Firm to Consular Services confirming the last session of the Inquiry | Refused | S37 (1) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 43 | 28 Jul 1999 | 990728 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome concerning a letter to the Maltese Minister of Transport and a conversation with Mr. Cormac Boomer on the merits or otherwise of mentioning the statement made by one of the victim’s sons in 1995 | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 51 | 02 Aug 1999 | 990802 | Correspondence from Ms. Alice Boomer and Mr. Cormac Boomer to Consular Services – received 23/08/1999 | Refused | S37 (1) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 45 | 03 Aug 1999 | 990803 | Further drafting of letter from Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland to the Maltese Minister for Transport and a handwritten note suggesting that the letter should be addressed to the Maltese Foreign Minister instead | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 46 | 03 Aug 1999 | 990803 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome with further drafting of the letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland to the Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs | Refused | S33 2 (b); S33 1 (d) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 47 | 05 Aug 1999 | 990805 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Office – letter from Minister for Foreign Affairs to Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs for clearance | Refused | S33 1 (d) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 48 | 12 Aug 1999 | 990812 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Office – cleared text of letter from Minister for Foreign Affairs to Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs. | Refused | S33 1 (d) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 49 | 12 Aug 1999 | 990812 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services with the address for the Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 50 | 12 Aug 1999 | 990812 | Signed letter from Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta copied to Embassy Rome and asking for onward transmission. The letter highlights the Boomer family’s concerns about the Inquiry. The letter asks if these concerns of the family could be addressed. | Refused | S33 1 (d); S33 2 (b) | 4 | No Document Available |
| 52 | 23 Aug 1999 | 990823 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Ms. Alice Boomer and Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 53 | 04 Nov 1999 | 991104 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services in response to a request from Consular Services to follow up with the Maltese authorities for a response to the Minister’s letter. The letter had been referred to the Board of Inquiry at that stage for a response. | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 54 | 08 Nov 1999 | 991108 | Correspondence from Ms. Mandy Boomer to Consular Services including correspondence from her lawyer and another family | Refused | S37 (1) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 55 | 08 Nov 1999 | 991108 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome enclosing the correspondence from Ms. Mandy Boomer and asking if the Embassy would be able to find out for Ms. Boomer if the findings of the Board of Inquiry could be reviewed | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 56 | 30 Nov 1999 | 991130 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services enclosing correspondence from Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledging the Minister’s letter but confirming that there were no developments to report. | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 57 | 03 Dec 1999 | 991203 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome reporting on a call with Ms. Mandy Boomer and asking for copies of news articles she referenced | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 58 | 09 Dec 1999 | 991209 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services enclosing press cuttings, ‘Four years on and still no answers’ and ‘Impact with the sea would have automatically set off the ELT emergency signal’ | Part-Granted | S33 2 (b) | 3 | Click To View Document |
| 59 | 13 Jan 2000 | 000113 | Correspondence from Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta to Consular Services enclosing press cutting, ‘Victims’ families call on inquiry board to finalise report’ | Part-Granted | S33 2 (b) | 2 | Click To View Document |
| 60 | 13 Jan 2000 | 000113 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta asking for a clearer copy of document 59 | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 61 | 14 Jan 2000 | 000114 | Correspondence from Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta to Consular Services confirming that the press cutting would be sent in the post | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 64 | 18 Jan 2000 | 000118 | Correspondence from Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta to Consular Services enclosing press cutting, ‘The Piper Lance stories’ | Part-Granted | S33 2 (b) | 2 | Click To View Document |
| 62 | 19 Jan 2000 | 000119 | Correspondence from Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta to Consular Services enclosing press cutting, ‘The Piper Lance stories’ | Part-Granted | S33 2 (b) | 2 | Click To View Document |
| 65 | 25 Jan 2000 | 000125 | Correspondence from Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta to Consular Services enclosing press cuttings on the final report of the Board of Inquiry | Part-Granted | S33 2 (b) | 4 | Click To View Document |
| 63 | 26 Jan 2000 | 000126 | Correspondence from Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta to Consular Services enclosing press cutting, ‘Victims’ families call on inquiry board to finalise report’ | Part-Granted | S33 2 (b) | 2 | Click To View Document |
| 66 | 26 Jan 2000 | 000126 | Correspondence from Honorary Consulate of Ireland, Malta to Consular Services enclosing press cuttings | Part-Granted | S33 2 (b) | 3 | Click To View Document |
| 67 | 18 Sep 2000 | 000918 | Correspondence from Embassy Rome to Consular Services on planned travel to Malta and asking if any matter should be raised- specifically the Boomer case | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 68 | 21 Sep 2000 | 000921 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome reporting on a call with Ms. Mandy Boomer. The Boomer family had not been in contact since the Board of Inquiry’s report was published in January and Consular Services therefore phoned Ms. Mandy Boomer. She confirmed that none of the families were happy with the report and particularly the lack of forensic examination of evidence. There was no ask in the call but Consular Services wrote about the outstanding question of whether the investigation were open for judicial review. | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 69 | 17 Nov 2000 | 001117 | Press cutting, ‘A Mediterranean Mystery’ | Granted | 3 | Click To View Document | |
| 70 | 30 Nov 2000 | 001130 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome asking for the family if the findings of the Board of Inquiry can be reviewed or appealed | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 72 | 30 Nov 2000 | 001130 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Consular Services received 08/12/2000 | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 73 | 30 Nov 2000 | 001130 | Correspondence from Mr. Cormac Boomer to Minister for Foreign Affairs received 12/12/2000 | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 71 | 03 Dec 2000 | 001203 | Press cutting | Granted | 1 | Click To View Document | |
| 74 | 12 Dec 2000 | 001212 | Correspondence from Office of Minister for Foreign Affairs to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 76 | 01 Jan 2001 | 010101 | Report of Taoiseach’s visit to Malta 7-9 January 2001. The Taoiseach raised the case but the Maltese authorities did not consider any further examination of the incident warranted. | Refused | S33 1 (d) | 4 | No Document Available |
| 75 | 05 Jan 2001 | 010105 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Department of the Taoiseach with a note on the case ahead of the Taoiseach’s meeting with the Maltese Prime Minister mentioning the Boomer family’s concerns | Refused | S33 1 (d) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 77 | 16 Jan 2001 | 010116 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome asking for some elaboration on the report of the Taoiseach’s visit to Malta related to the Boomer case and asking if there is definitive confirmation that the family cannot challenge the findings of the Board of Inquiry | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 78 | 24 Jan 2001 | 010124 | Correspondence from Consular Services to Embassy Rome with a draft reply to Mr. Cormac Boomer’s letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 3 | No Document Available |
| 79 | 30 Jan 2001 | 010130 | Correspondence Consular Services copying Embassy Rome asking about seeking a response from the Maltese authorities for the family | Refused | S33 2 (b) | 1 | No Document Available |
| 80 | 31 Jan 2001 | 010131 | Correspondence from Office of Minister for Foreign Affairs to Mr. Cormac Boomer | Refused | S37 (1) | 2 | No Document Available |
| 81 | 01 Jan 2003 | 030101 | Press Cutting, ‘State did not help us, says missing Irishman’s father’ | Granted | 1 | Click To View Document | |
| - 3 letters from Mr. Cormac Boomer to the Attorney General of Malta | |||||||
| - 1 letter to the Chairman of the Board of Enquiry | |||||||
| - 1 letter to the Minister of Transport and Communication of Malta | |||||||
| - 1 letter to the Tunisian Ambassador to Malta | |||||||
| - 1 response from the Attorney General of Malta to Mr. Cormac Boomer |