Brady denies Catholic Church colluded in Chesney cover-up

THE head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Seán Brady, yesterday strenuously denied the Church colluded in covering up the suspected involvement of a priest in one of the worst terrorist outrages in the Troubles.

Nine people, including an eight-year-old girl and two teenage boys, were killed and 30 injured in three car bombings in the Derry village of Claudy on July 31, 1972.

A report by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman said the then head of the Church, Cardinal William Conway, moved the priest, Fr James Chesney, across the border to Donegal following secret talks with the Northern Ireland secretary of state William Whitelaw.