Irish Independent Fri. April 30, 2004 Witnesses 'not given chance to identify bomb blast suspects'  Paul Melia TWO eyewitnesses who told gardai they could identify the driver and  passenger of a car believed to be carrying the bomb that exploded on  Dublin's Parnell Street in 1974 were never asked by gardai to examine  pictures of suspects. Derek Byrne and Rory Mooney yesterday told the  inquest into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings that despite giving  statements to gardai describing the occupants of a Hillman Avenger car,  they were never asked to look at mugshots or help provide a photofit.  Another witness, Teresa O'Loughlin, said that she identified the driver  of the car to gardai after being shown books of pictures. However,  neither Mr Byrne nor Mr Mooney were asked to examine photographs.  Mr Mooney told the inquest that on May 17, 1974 he was driving from  O'Connell Street towards Parnell Street behind a metallic blue Hillman  Avenger being driven very slowly. The northern-registered car, which had  a registration plate beginning with DIA, was being driven as if the  driver was unfamiliar with the city, he said.  Eventually the car pulled in on Parnell Street, just prior to the bombs  detonating. In a statement to gardai he described the occupants of the  car, which is believed to have held the bombs. The driver, he said, was  aged 37-44 years old, was 5'8", had an overgrown crewcut of black hair,  was clean shaven and was possibly wearing a shirt and tie. The passenger  was in his early 20s, fair-haired, pale-faced and about 5'7".  "Something about the way it was being driven was unusual," he told the  inquest. "I got the impression that the driver was not familiar with  Dublin." But he went on to say that despite telling gardai he could  identify the driver: "I was never contacted at any time since I gave this  statement. I was not shown photos to this day."  Meanwhile, another witness - 14-year-old petrol pump attendant Derek  Byrne - told the inquest that he saw a man park a dark-coloured Morris  car on Parnell Street, wipe the door with a handkerchief, and run off  down North Great George's Street.  Moments later there was a massive explosion and the teenager was thrown  across the garage. He was later mistaken for dead and put in the morgue  of the Mater Hospital. He still attends hospital as a result of the  injuries he sustained. He was never shown photographs of the suspects.  Earlier another witness, Teresa O'Loughlin, described how gardai called  to her home to show her pictures of a suspect believed to be involved in  the bombing. She identified the man from four different pictures provided  by gardai. Another witness, Sister Rosaleen Darling, also said that a  green car or van was parked on Parnell Street, while Carmel Dowling, who  worked on Parnell Street, said she saw a blue/green Avenger car with the  registration DIA parked on the street for the day.  A final witness, Peter Flanagan, described how the same metallic blue  Avenger with the registration number DIA passed him at speed at Finglas  on the way into Dublin.  The inquest continues this morning.