Disgusting conspiracy over Claudy
THE Claudy bombing was a barbaric act and the cover up which followed was simply disgusting.
It is stomach-wrenching to think the police, Catholic church and the government conspired in one way or another to cover up the role of a priest, who was believed to have played a key part in the bombing.
Nine people lost their lives in the small Co Londonderry village on July 31 in 1972, the worst year of the Troubles which saw 497 deaths. In July alone, almost 100 people died.
The report from the Police Ombudsman is a damning indictment on those at or near the top of the police, Catholic church and the government at that time.
Undoubtedly they took their decisions for what they perceived was the greater good in the context of the times, although many people will believe their logic was flawed.
The RUC had intelligence that Fr James Chesney was a leading member of the IRA in the area and had a role in the bombing.
But intelligence is not evidence and detectives investigating the bombing may not have been able to arrest Fr Chesney and have him convicted.
The Ombudsman's report says the attempts by the police to pursue Fr Chesney were frustrated ahead of a meeting between then Northern Ireland secretary of state William Whitelaw and the leader of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Conway. The priest was then moved to Co Donegal, which seems a pathetically weak and immoral response to the situation.
Most of the key players in this very sad episode of our history are now dead, but so, too, are nine people who were cut down on a summer's morning as they went about their normal lives.
They are the people we should be remembering today.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
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