Cover-up alleged over 1972 Ireland blast
Source: Agencies |
August 25, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE British government, the police and the Catholic Church colluded to protect a priest suspected of involvement in a 1972 bombing in Northern Ireland that killed nine people, an official report said yesterday.
The Police Ombudsman's report revealed that a cardinal was involved in moving Father James Chesney out of British-ruled Northern Ireland, highlighting anew the way the Church hierarchy shielded priests from allegations of criminal activity.
The inquiry showed that Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw had a private meeting with Cardinal William Conway, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, in which they discussed the possibility of transferring Chesney.
"I accept that 1972 was one of the worst years of the 'Troubles' and that the arrest of a priest might well have aggravated the security situation," Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson said. But "the decision failed those who were murdered, injured and bereaved in the bombing."
No one was ever charged or convicted for the triple car bomb attack on the village of Claudy, but the republican guerrilla group the IRA was assumed to be responsible. Those killed included a nine-year-old-girl and two teenage boys. Chesney, a priest in a neighboring parish, always denied any involvement, though the police had intelligence that he was the leader of the IRA in south Derry.
The current head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, who has been under pressure to resign over his role in concealing sex abuse cases, said it was regrettable that the bombing was not investigated properly but denied the Church took part in a cover-up.
"He (Cardinal Conway) was faced with an impossible situation but his primary consideration would be the prevention of any further acts of violence," said Cardinal Sean Brady.
The British government's representative in Northern Ireland apologized for the Claudy investigation. "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," Owen Paterson said in a statement.
The priest was transferred to Donegal in the Irish Republic in 1973 and died there in 1980.
The Police Ombudsman's report revealed that a cardinal was involved in moving Father James Chesney out of British-ruled Northern Ireland, highlighting anew the way the Church hierarchy shielded priests from allegations of criminal activity.
The inquiry showed that Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw had a private meeting with Cardinal William Conway, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, in which they discussed the possibility of transferring Chesney.
"I accept that 1972 was one of the worst years of the 'Troubles' and that the arrest of a priest might well have aggravated the security situation," Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson said. But "the decision failed those who were murdered, injured and bereaved in the bombing."
No one was ever charged or convicted for the triple car bomb attack on the village of Claudy, but the republican guerrilla group the IRA was assumed to be responsible. Those killed included a nine-year-old-girl and two teenage boys. Chesney, a priest in a neighboring parish, always denied any involvement, though the police had intelligence that he was the leader of the IRA in south Derry.
The current head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, who has been under pressure to resign over his role in concealing sex abuse cases, said it was regrettable that the bombing was not investigated properly but denied the Church took part in a cover-up.
"He (Cardinal Conway) was faced with an impossible situation but his primary consideration would be the prevention of any further acts of violence," said Cardinal Sean Brady.
The British government's representative in Northern Ireland apologized for the Claudy investigation. "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," Owen Paterson said in a statement.
The priest was transferred to Donegal in the Irish Republic in 1973 and died there in 1980.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
