Claudy bombings cover-up is truly appalling
THE terrorist war that beset Northern Ireland for 35 years has left a legacy of bitterness, sorrow and despair because in so many cases families who suffered believe that they never experienced any justice.
Killers walked free while families of their victims have been trapped in cages of grief. Terrorists have prospered while their victims have been left with their lives in ruin. Those who directed murder in Northern Ireland are elevated to high position while those who bore the brunt of the terror campaign are forgotten.
For the families of the nine people brutally blown to pieces in Claudy 38 years ago and the many others who carried the scars to their grave or still bear them today, the Ombudsman's report into the Claudy cover-up must have been a terrible blow, even worse the arrogance of the Roman Catholic Church, the silence of the police and the wishy washy response of the government must have rubbed salt into the very open wounds of the families of the victims.
One has to accept that in any situation such as we have gone through since 1969, murky compromises are made. When fighting terrorists it is sometimes necessary to turn a blind eye to some incidents if action is likely to jeopardise intelligence sources or reveal too much to the enemy. We should all be thankful that we were not forced to have to make some of the decisions which I know haunt many within the intelligence community even today. However the scandalous, sordid Claudy cover-up served no purpose other than to hide the embarrassment of the Roman Catholic Church one of whose pastors was so blinded by hate that he organised the mass murder of some of his own parishioners.
Someone who was supposed to give spiritual succour, moral guidance and pastoral support embarked on a campaign to destroy the lives of the very people he had taken vows to help, he slaughtered the very sheep whose shepherd he had been appointed to be.
Of course the Roman Catholic Church can very well claim that it cannot be held responsible for one of its priests turning out bad and that is correct. What is appalling however is that after the head of the church admitted that he knew Father Chesney was "a very bad man", the church appointed him to be the priest of another parish. If he was a bad man how could he fulfil his function as a spiritual leader?
What is even more appalling has been the reaction since the Ombudsman identified the disgraceful way in which this mass murder was handled.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church has brazenly claimed that it was not involved in any cover-up and has Pontius Pilate like washed the Church's hands of the affair blaming the RUC for not investigating the case. Not even an apology has been given and at the morning mass in Claudy the day afterwards the topic was not even mentioned.
I have spoken to many Roman Catholics who were furious and embarrassed at the way in which their church covered up the scandal of paedophile priests abusing children. How much worse is this cover-up of a priest who organised the murder of the members of his own church because of his political hatred?
Equally we must not ignore the role played by the then Conservative Secretary of State Willie Whitelaw. He was nicknamed Willie Whitewash way back in 1972 but given his role in this affair, that nickname is far too kind. The hands of a man who was known as Mrs Thatcher's political fixer are mired by this bloody massacre. Whatever his motives, they can never be interpreted as honourable, necessary or acceptable.
This was one of the worst examples of the political and religious establishment conspiring to protect themselves at the expense of ordinary honest people and is a disgraceful blot on the Tory Party for which they should be ashamed and show some contrition for. The higher ranks of the then RUC come out no better but again by the time people reach this level in an organisation some are more interested in protecting their own status and have an eye to the baubles which the establishment has to offer rather than doing what is right.
Hopefully, even if belatedly, the establishment villains who conspired to deny the victims of Claudy justice will see the error of their ways and will seek to make amends. Looking to the future as the Historic Enquiry Team ploughs its way through the murky depths of the past the question remains how many more face-saving deals are being hatched by those who would rather see justice denied than the political and establishment boat rocked?
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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