AN OFFICER investigating the bombing of Claudy, Co Derry, in 1972 has travelled to the US to question a suspect held by the FBI there.
The revelation was confirmed on Tuesday hours before a BBC Northern Ireland report on the atrocity was broadcast and after a PSNI application to halt it was refused by a judge in Belfast.
Police had sought to see the Spotlightprogramme before it was due to air amid concerns that it could prejudice its inquiries.
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott had applied for one his senior officers to view the report in advance amid concerns that some figures who are central to the ongoing investigation could be named.
The PSNI said it feared that this could amount to a contempt of court or could interfere with the administration of justice or breach individual confidentiality.
However, Mr Justice Treacy did not allow the application, claiming it was based on what he called pure speculation.
He said: “Nobody has ever attempted to do this before and no authority has been put before the court anywhere in the UK or indeed elsewhere to support this.” He described it as an unprecedented application which, if it had succeeded, would have significantly extended the boundaries of existing case law.
“I do not consider that there is sufficient or indeed any material before the court which would justify the court in granting the injunction sought,” he said.
The programme was broadcast as scheduled.
Nine people died in the no-warning bombing of the Co Derry village in July 1972. The IRA has been blamed for the attack but no one has been convicted in connection with it.