Former bishop condemns report linking priest to bombing

FORMER Bishop of Derry Edward Daly has hit out at the recent report which named Fr James Chesney a prime IRA suspect in the Claudy bombing in 1972.

Earlier this month, the North’s Police Ombudsman found that the RUC engaged in a “collusive act” in 1972 in how it dealt with high-level intelligence that the priest was a prime suspect in the IRA bombing which killed nine people and injured more than 30.

However, in a strongly worded article in yesterday’s issue of the Irish News, former Bishop of Derry Edward Daly said he was “not at all convinced” Fr Chesney was involved in the Claudy bombings and that he found aspects of the report “strange”.