John
08-24-2010, 08:16 AM
A report into how police handled allegations that a Catholic priest was involved in the multiple bombings of a small village is to be made public.
Nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed when three car bombs exploded in Claudy in Co. Londonderry on July 31, 1972.
Some 30 people were also injured.
Standing outside the village hotel where the third device detonated, survivor Paul O'Kane recalls that day nearly 40 ago.
"There was absolute devastation," he told Sky News.
"It was like something you would see on the news now in Baghdad.
"There was smoke, there was a motorbike on fire, cars on fire, there were no windows left and there was nothing but moaning and groaning."
In the days after the attack, the names of those believed to have been the bombers were discussed in the area and Father James Chesney was at the centre of the speculation.
He was soon moved to a parish in Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and was never questioned by police about the attack. He died in 1980.
Now an investigation by the police ombudsman for Northern Ireland looking at how the police at the time handled the bombing investigation is to be published.
The report will also consider allegations that the priest escaped justice because the Government, under then Secretary of State Willie Whitelaw, and the Catholic Church were involved in a cover-up.
Speaking ahead of the report's publication, MP for the area Gregory Campbell said: "If the Government of the day, and it was a Conservative Government of the day, if they were involved in any type of cover-up I think the least that they [the families] could get would be an apology."
The IRA is widely believed to have carried out the bombing, but the organisation has never admitted to it.
The speculation and controversy surrounding one of Northern Ireland's worst atrocities has left the families of the victims and those who were injured with many unanswered questions.
Councillor and Claudy resident Thomas Conway said: "People in Claudy feel very much that they are the forgotten people of The Troubles.
"Things moved on elsewhere, other issues were resolved, but the people in Claudy now just want truth."
Source - Yahoo News.
Nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed when three car bombs exploded in Claudy in Co. Londonderry on July 31, 1972.
Some 30 people were also injured.
Standing outside the village hotel where the third device detonated, survivor Paul O'Kane recalls that day nearly 40 ago.
"There was absolute devastation," he told Sky News.
"It was like something you would see on the news now in Baghdad.
"There was smoke, there was a motorbike on fire, cars on fire, there were no windows left and there was nothing but moaning and groaning."
In the days after the attack, the names of those believed to have been the bombers were discussed in the area and Father James Chesney was at the centre of the speculation.
He was soon moved to a parish in Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and was never questioned by police about the attack. He died in 1980.
Now an investigation by the police ombudsman for Northern Ireland looking at how the police at the time handled the bombing investigation is to be published.
The report will also consider allegations that the priest escaped justice because the Government, under then Secretary of State Willie Whitelaw, and the Catholic Church were involved in a cover-up.
Speaking ahead of the report's publication, MP for the area Gregory Campbell said: "If the Government of the day, and it was a Conservative Government of the day, if they were involved in any type of cover-up I think the least that they [the families] could get would be an apology."
The IRA is widely believed to have carried out the bombing, but the organisation has never admitted to it.
The speculation and controversy surrounding one of Northern Ireland's worst atrocities has left the families of the victims and those who were injured with many unanswered questions.
Councillor and Claudy resident Thomas Conway said: "People in Claudy feel very much that they are the forgotten people of The Troubles.
"Things moved on elsewhere, other issues were resolved, but the people in Claudy now just want truth."
Source - Yahoo News.