The so-called ‘Sallins Men’ — Michael Barrett, Osgur Breatnach, John Fitzpatrick, Nicky Kelly, Brian McNally and the late Mick Plunkett — were allegedly beaten by gardaí following their arrests in connection with the robbery.

All six men were members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), whose paramilitary wing, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was suspected by gardaí of involvement in the robbery.

Three of the men were tried before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, found guilty and spent time in prison. They were all subsequently acquitted or pardoned.

In May 1980, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) said it was in fact responsible for the robbery.

In September 2023, a petition calling for an inquiry was sent to then justice minister Helen McEntee by four NGOs: the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), the Pat Finucane Centre (PFC) and Fair Trials.

The NGOs reiterated their call in September 2024, noting that they had yet to receive a response.

Robert Troy, minister of state in the Department of Justice, yesterday told the Dáil that the justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, will shortly respond to the petitioners.

However, he also said: “Given all the developments that have taken place in the intervening years, including the adjudication by the courts and the granting of a presidential pardon, I am advised that the minister is not aware of any matter of urgent public interest which would warrant reopening the matter.”

He added: “In order for a public inquiry and all that entails to be warranted, it must serve an urgent public interest. With all of the developments that have taken place, there is no obvious purpose that would be served.”