British Govt issues apology over bomb probe 'cover-up'

Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson said today that the British Government was “profoundly sorry” that the victims of the 1972 Claudy bombing and their families had been denied justice.

The attack was a terrible atrocity carried out by terrorists during the bloodiest year of the Troubles, said Mr Paterson.

He said he absolutely condemned the actions of the terrorists, saying it was a despicable and evil act carried out by despicable and evil people.

A report by Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson, published today, revealed that a police investigation into a Catholic priest suspected over the outrage was stopped after senior officers conspired with the British government and Church to protect him.

Father James Chesney was transferred to a parish in Co Donegal, outside the North's jurisdiction, following secret talks between the then secretary of state William Whitelaw and the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal William Conway.

The two men discussed the scandal after being approached by a senior Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer as the police were apparently reluctant to arrest the cleric for fear of inflaming the security situation.

Nine people, including a young girl, were killed and 30 injured when three car bombs exploded in the quiet Co Derry village of Claudy in July 1972. No-one has ever been charged with the murders.

In a statement, Mr Paterson said: “My anger at the actions of those responsible for the attack is matched in strength by my sorrow that the survivors of the atrocity and the relatives of the dead did not see those responsible brought to justice for their crimes.

“I recognise, of course, that all those involved in combating terrorism at the time were making decisions in exceptionally difficult circumstances and under extreme pressure.”

The Claudy bombing took place during a month which also witnessed the end of a temporary IRA ceasefire, the Bloody Friday bombings, Operation Motorman and widespread civil disorder and violence.

Nearly 100 people died in July 1972 alone, making it the most violent month in the most violent year of the Troubles.

In relation to the interaction between the RUC, Mr Whitelaw and Cardinal Conway about Father Chesney, the Ombudsman’s report stated that “the actions of the senior RUC officers, in seeking and accepting the Government’s assistance in dealing with the problem that Father Chesney’s alleged wrongdoing presented, was by definition a collusive act”.

Mr Hutchinson observed that the government was “asked by police to assist in resolving a matter of public interest.

“They had a legitimate interest in doing so. In the course of this inquiry the Police Ombudsman’s investigation found no evidence of any criminal intent on the part of any government minister or official.”

In his conclusions, the Ombudsman found that the RUC decision not to investigate Father Chesney was “wrong” and “contrary to a fundamental duty of police to investigate those suspected of criminality”.

Mr Paterson said: “The PSNI have expressed their regret that opportunities to arrest and interview all of the suspects were not taken in 1972.

“For my part, on behalf of the Government, I am profoundly sorry that Father Chesney was not properly investigated for his suspected involvement in this hideous crime, and that the victims and their families have been denied justice.

“In the course of their investigations, both the PSNI and the Police Ombudsman have conducted inquiries with the Department. I can confirm that the Department’s files have been extensively searched and that all relevant documents were provided to the Ombudsman.

“The only document referring to discussions about Father Chesney is the letter of December 6 1972 quoted in the Ombudsman’s report.

“In the interests of transparency, I am today publishing the document and will send a copy to the Public Record Office in Northern Ireland, the National Archives and the Linenhall Library.”

Relatives of some of the victims called for a renewed effort to catch those bombers who are still alive.

They also called on the UK government and Catholic Church to investigate fully their part in the cover-up.

Mark Eakin, who was blown off his feet in the blast that killed his younger sister Kathryn, said while he wanted an apology from the Government, that was not enough.

“An apology, yes, but more than an apology I would like to see somebody brought to justice for this,” he said.

Mr Eakin said the families needed to know how far up the conspiracy went.

“The Northern Ireland Office couldn’t make a decision on this on their own, there’s no way William Whitelaw made this decision on his own, it had to come from higher up,” he said.

“I would like to ask the British Government if they would now step in and investigate this thing further, give the PSNI of today, who are still trying to investigate, more resources.

“I would also like the Catholic Church to help in any way that it can with any information they haven’t previously released, for whatever reason God knows.”

None of the relatives of the Catholic victims of the atrocity attended a press conference after the families were briefed by the Ombudsman’s team.

Mr Eakin, a Protestant, said he felt for the Catholics who had to hear the shocking revelations about a member of their faith.

“Claudy was a mix and match, there were five Catholics killed and only four Protestants,” he said.

“It was a bad day for everybody and I just feel so sorry for some of the Catholic people that had to sit up there today and listen to what they had to listen to about their own Church. I feel they’ve been let down by their Church.

“I personally have been let down because I treat myself as part-Irish part-British, but I would say I am British.

“I feel I have been let down by the Government that I pay my taxes to. They have not performed at all, they have totally washed their hands of Claudy and preferred to wash it under a carpet for 38 years.”

Mr Hutchinson later revealed that the police had intelligence suggesting that Father Chesney continued to be involved in the IRA after the Claudy bombing.

He did not elaborate on details and noted that the period was not within the remit of his investigation.