The families of the 1985 Air India bombing victims are still waiting. It has been nearly four decades. The British coroner is fed up with the lack of forensic progress.
The victims, 329 people, mostly Canadians, died when Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland. Only 131 bodies were recovered. Of those, many were burnt beyond recognition.
The coroner, Dr. Michael Burgess, has now written to the UK Home Secretary. He wants a fresh review.
He wants a dedicated forensic team. He wants answers. This is not a new story.
This is a saga. The political game here is about blame. The UK government says it is an Irish matter.
Ireland says the evidence is held by the UK. Canada is furious. The families are exhausted.
The coroner is playing his part. He is the voice of the dead. But in Whitehall, this is a low priority.
There is no PR disaster here. No key constituency. No votes.
So the letters pile up. The demands for answers are met with courtesy replies. The game continues.
The question is: will this ever be closed? Not likely. Not until someone leaks something.
Or a backbencher makes a fuss. Until then, the families wait. The coroner waits.
The system grinds on.
