He was only sorry for any offence caused, if you happened to be sensitive enough to take offence.
There was no mention of the pain revisited on relatives, nor recognition that he had been hailing mass death as military achievement.
And then he hurried on to praise his own record and achievements.
Ironically, however, it happened that another Stanley terrorism controversy was raised earlier in the Dáil one which reflects the cost in human life to this State of the Provisional IRA’s paramilitary campaign over three decades in Northern Ireland.
Fianna Fáil TDs Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth brought up an
Political Correspondent
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told the Dáil that he will pursue both the British and Northern Irish authorities regarding the no-warning car-bomb attack on Belturbet, Co Cavan, in which two teenage civilians were murdered in 1972.
Loyalist paramilitaries were responsible for the bombing which killed Geraldine O Reilly, 15, and Paddy Stanley, 16. However there have also been allegations of collusion by British security forces in the attack.
Mr Martin told the Dáil that he would pursue the matter with the British authorities and the authorities in Northern Ireland because the families involved have been left with no answers or closure.
Kerry couple who survived Belturbet bombing says families of victims deserve to know more radiokerry.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from radiokerry.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
An RTE documentary is set to reveal new evidence that British security forces failed to act on information before the explosion of a car bomb in Co Cavan 48 years ago.
On December 28, 1972, a no-warning car bomb killed two teenagers and injured nine others in Belturbet, while explosions also occurred in Co Monaghan and Co Donegal.
In a special documentary tonight at 9.35pm on RTE One, Belturbet: A Bomb That Time Forgot , will reveal a lack of trust between police services north and south.
The RTE Investigates programme will also question the political will to bring those behind the bomb to justice, and uncovered evidence that British security forces failed to act on credible information, which allowed loyalist paramilitaries to operate freely in south Fermanagh.
British forces withheld key info on Troubles bombings rte.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rte.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.