FLOWERS were laid on Saturday in memory of those killed in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings as relatives marked the anniversary of the deadliest single day of killings during the Troubles.

An online mass was also held in St Agnes Church, Crumlin, as campaign group Justice for the Forgotten paid tribute to the 34 people, including an unborn child, who died following four explosions during rush hour 46 years ago.

Nobody has been charged with the bombings despite relatives leading a near 50-year campaign for justice. Their efforts have been stymied by the authorities which have blocked the release of key documents relating to the attack.

Rumours have long persisted over the involvement of British intelligence services in the bombings as part of a secretive dirty war in Ireland in collusion with loyalist paramilitary gangs.

A report into the attacks previously suggested the involvement of MI5 with the Irish parliament branding the attacks “an act of international terrorism involving British state forces.”

The Ulster Volunteer Force claimed responsibility for the no-warning blasts in 1993. But the bombings are now subject to a wider investigation into the activities of the notorious Glenanne Gang — a clandestine alliance including loyalist paramilitaries, serving British soldiers and police officers.

The gang is said to be responsible for around 90 attacks with more than 120 people murdered, targeting Catholics and nationalists predominately in the so-called “murder triangle” area of counties Armagh and Tyrone.

The inquiry is headed up by retired Bedfordshire chief constable Jon Boutcher and will also investigate the 1975 Miami Showband massacre — when three musicians were murdered after their tour bus was ambushed.