18 Jul 2019

Former union leader: Trades Hall bombing a political murder

From Morning Report, 8:23 am on 18 July 2019

Police have reactivated a cold case involving the death of a caretaker in the bombing of Wellington's Trades Hall in 1984.

Ernie Abbott was killed in the blast after he picked up a suitcase that had been left on the ground floor.

Trade union boss Ken Douglas was in a Wellington meeting when news of the deadly explosion came through.

Police failed to find the bomber, but all these years later they may now be close.

Mr Douglas believes it was a political murder and he speaks to Kim Hill.