Celbridge resident Ron O'Neill spoke on the Kildare Today show back in September, retelling the tragic accident that killed three boys and injured ten children
As reported by The Journal Investigates today, incoming Dublin Mid West TDs have confirmed they are willing to meet with survivors of the 1979 Glen of Imaal explosion.
On April 14th, 1979, St. Mary's Youth Club in Lucan went on a trip to the Glen of Imaal, who were were involved in a tragic accident that killed three boys and injured ten children.
The Lucan club had travelled to the Glen of Imaal for the Easter weekend to hike up Lugnaquilla.
They entered Defence Forces territory along their route, and came across an old tank that was in use at the time as a target.
One of the boys picked up an object, thinking it was part of the tank, and another boy threw the object against a rock, causing it to explode.
The object thrown was an unexploded 84mm HEAT – High Explosive Anti Tank – shell.
Two boys were killed almost instantly, with a third boy having died later in hospital.
Contacted by The Journal Investigates team, five Dublin Mid West TDs said they would be willing to meet with the survivors.
They include Independent's Paul Gogarty, Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Broin and Mark Ward, Fine Gael's Emer Higgins, and Fianna Fáil's Shane Moyhnihan.
Outgoing TD for Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit–Solidarity's Gino Kenny raised the issue in the Dáil following the investigation carried out by The Journal.
Kenny lost his seat in November's election, but had received no response from the department.
Speaking publicly on his story was Ron O'Neill, originally from Lucan but now resides in Celbridge, who spoke on the Kildare Today show back in September.
Commenting on what he would like to see from the next Dáil, Ron O'Neill said he wanted an acknowledgment from the State “that we weren’t in the wrong.
“I’d like some kind of apology and recognition from the Government to say they were in the wrong.”
You can listen back to Ron's interview on the Kildare Today show here:
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