THE NORTHERN Ireland Police Ombudsman has appealed for new information on an IRA car-bombing which killed nine people, including three children and injured more than 30 on July 31st 1972.
Mr Al Hutchinson was speaking following publication of his report which found the RUC colluded with the Catholic Church and the British government over the suspected involvement of a priest in the bombing at Claudy in Derry.
The priest, Fr James Chesney, was transferred to a parish in Donegal after the bombing and was never interviewed by police. He died in 1980. Mr Hutchinson also said that in 1973 and for an unspecified period thereafter, Fr Chesney remained active in the IRA.
Mr Hutchinson appealed to people who “wanted to clear their consciences” and who were implicated in the bombing or knew who was responsible to bring that information forward to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Northern Secretary Owen Paterson said last night there would not be an official inquiry into the bombing despite appeals for a renewed attempt to apprehend those of the bombers still alive and to bring the matter “to Westminster”.
He was responding to a call by some of the victims’ families for an inquiry after Mr Hutchinson detailed how the RUC, the then northern secretary William Whitelaw and the then Catholic primate cardinal William Conway were aware Fr Chesney was a chief suspect for the bombing.
Mr Hutchinson found an “RUC decision to seek the government’s assistance through an engagement with senior figures in the Catholic Church, and then to accept an understanding that was reported back to them, compromised the investigation of the Claudy bombing; failed those who were murdered and injured; and undermined the police officers who were investigating the atrocity”.
He also cited correspondence noting how Mr Whitelaw met cardinal Conway on December 5th, 1972, to give him “a full account of his disgust at Chesney’s behaviour” and how the cardinal reportedly responded that “he knew that the priest was a very bad man and would see what could be done. The cardinal mentioned the possibility of transferring him to Donegal . . .”
Catholic primate Cardinal Seán Brady rejected claims the Catholic Church was party to a cover-up over Claudy. “The fact is that the actions of cardinal Conway or any other church authority did not prevent the future arrest or questioning of Fr Chesney,” he said.
Of the nine people who died five were Catholic and four were Protestant. Their relatives and some of the surviving injured victims of the bombing were briefed yesterday in Claudy about the findings. Afterwards, some of the Protestant Claudy families gave a press conference, with the Catholic families deciding not to attend.
Mark Eakin, whose eight-year-old sister Kathryn was killed in one of the three explosions, said those involved had one last chance to stand up and be counted. “I am asking them if they have any guilt this is their final chance to clear themselves with God and make a path into heaven. Other than that they can banish in hell,” he said.
Mr Eakin said the inquiry must not end with the report and that the matter should “go to Westminster”.
Northern Secretary Mr Paterson said the British government was “profoundly sorry” that Fr Chesney’s alleged involvement in the bombing was not properly investigated. But he ruled out any official inquiry into the bombing because so many of the suspects and other principals were dead.
