Ustica massacre: the Government will oppose the request to dismiss the case
Mattarella: 46 years on from the Ustica massacre, a commitment to truth and remembrance
Key points
‘It has been 46 years since the tragedy in the skies above Ustica. On this day of reflection and remembrance, our thoughts of sympathy and solidarity go first and foremost to the families of the victims, who are torn apart by an unacceptable tragedy and a profound grief that time cannot ease,” said the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in a statement.
An irreversible disaster
“In the history of the Republic,” emphasises the Head of State, “the mark left by that catastrophe cannot be erased. Eighty-one lives were lost. All the passengers and crew members on board the DC9, which had departed from Bologna and was bound for Palermo, perished. Many of the bodies were never laid to rest.” “For a long time, the reconstruction of what happened remained unclear; however, the path towards seeking the truth has been followed and has yielded significant results. Reconstructing what happened over the Tyrrhenian Sea on that tragic 27 June 1980 remains an inescapable duty,” concludes Mattarella.
The Government will oppose the request to dismiss the case
The Government, through the State Legal Service, will oppose the request to dismiss the case submitted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office as part of the investigation into the Ustica massacre.
The hearing at which the judge will be called upon to rule on the application to dismiss the case has been set for 30 September.
At present, it is not yet possible to bring a civil action, as the proceedings are still at the preliminary investigation stage. This is stated in a press release issued by Palazzo Chigi.
