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Sjudɒnɪməs (talk | contribs) Undid revision 380748306 Wikipedia:Victim Lists is merely an essay. List of victims is within MoS, see WP:LIST |
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Mr Whitelaw, a minister in Edward Heath's Conservative government, died in 1999, Cardinal Conway in 1977, Sir Graham in 2001 and Father Chesney, aged 46, in 1980.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/7961648/Claudy-bombing-priests-role-in-IRA-attack-was-covered-up.html|title=Claudy bombing: priest's role in IRA attack 'was covered up'|work=[[Daily Telegraph]]|place=London|date=24 August 2010|accessdate=24 August 2010}}</ref> |
Mr Whitelaw, a minister in Edward Heath's Conservative government, died in 1999, Cardinal Conway in 1977, Sir Graham in 2001 and Father Chesney, aged 46, in 1980.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/7961648/Claudy-bombing-priests-role-in-IRA-attack-was-covered-up.html|title=Claudy bombing: priest's role in IRA attack 'was covered up'|work=[[Daily Telegraph]]|place=London|date=24 August 2010|accessdate=24 August 2010}}</ref> |
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==Victims== |
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*Patrick Connelly, aged 15 |
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*Kathryn Eakin, aged 8 |
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*Arthur Hone, aged 38 |
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*Jim McClelland, aged 65 |
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*Joe McCloskey, aged 39 |
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*Elizabeth McElhinney, aged 59 |
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*Rose McLaughlin, aged 52 |
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*David Miller, aged 60 |
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*Willie Temple, aged 16 |
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==Memorial== |
==Memorial== |
Revision as of 17:32, 24 August 2010
54°54′41″N 7°9′17″W / 54.91139°N 7.15472°W
Claudy Bombing | |
---|---|
Location | Main Street, Claudy, Northern Ireland |
Date | 31 July 1972 |
Target | unknown |
Attack type | car bombing |
Deaths | 9 |
Injured | 30 |
The Claudy bombing occurred on 31 July 1972, when three car bombs exploded mid-morning on the Main Street of Claudy in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The attack killed nine civilians, and became known as "Bloody Monday".[1] The explosions took place without warning, as the bombers' attempted warning was delayed by telephones being out-of-order as the exchanges had been bombed previously.[2] The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued an immediate denial of responsibility.[2][3] The IRA later claimed that "an internal court of inquiry" had found that its local unit did not carry out the attack.[4] On 24 August 2010, following an eight year investigation, Northern Ireland's police ombudsman published a report into the bombing which concluded that a local Catholic priest was the IRA's quartermaster and Director of Operations in South Derry and was directly involved in the bombings.[5]His role was subsequently covered up by senior police officers, government ministers and the Catholic hierarchy.[6]
Bombs used
Three car bombs were placed in the centre of the village, which was busy with shoppers at the time of the attack. The attacks came hours after Operation Motorman, a British Army operation to re-establish control of areas in Belfast and Derry which had become "no-go areas", and may have been made in response.[2] The explosions took place without warning, as the bombers' attempted warning was delayed by telephones being out-of-order due to the exchanges having been bombed previously.[2]
The first bomb, hidden inside a stolen Ford Cortina, exploded at 10:15 outside McElhinney’s Bar on Main Street, killing Kathryn Eakin, Joseph McCloskey and Elizabeth McElhinney instantly. A second bomb, concealed inside a stolen Morris Mini Traveller parked outside the Post Office on Main Street, was spotted by a police officer, Sergeant Jones, who then began directing people away from the area towards Church Street. At 10:30 a bomb concealed inside a stolen Mini Van detonated outside the Beaufort Hotel on Church Street, killing James McClelland, David Miller and William Temple. The bomb outside the Post Office exploded almost simultaneously. Joseph Connolly, Arthur Hone and Rose McLaughlin subsequently died from injuries sustained in the first explosion.
Initial police investigations found that a car was seen travelling from Claudy at 10:00 and had stopped at the nearby village of Feeny where a passenger tried to use the public telephone box, which was out of order. The car then travelled to Dungiven where it stopped on the Main Street and two men got out and went into separate shops to use the telephones, which were also out of order following a bomb attack at the local telephone exchange. The men then asked the shop assistants to tell the police at Dungiven that there were three bombs in Claudy, but by this time the first bomb had already detonated. A suspect who owned a car of the type used by the two men was arrested in August 1972, but provided an alibi that at the time of the incident he was at the home of a priest, Father James Chesney, in Bellaghy, about 5 miles north of Magherafelt. Father Chesney corroborated the man's alibi and he was released.
Involvement of Father James Chesney
The Derry brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) denied involvement at the time of the attack. However, Derry politician Ivan Cooper (of the Social Democratic and Labour Party) claimed that the IRA was involved in the attack and that the Catholic priest from the nearby parish of Cullion, Father James Chesney was involved in the attack. Cooper stated:"Within a couple of days, a man lurked like a scared rabbit outside one of my constituency offices. He told me the IRA was behind the bomb and I had every reason to believe him. He gave no names and I asked no names. That is the way it was then. It was dangerous to know too much. But several months later, I became aware of the identities and I have absolutely no doubt that Father Jim Chesney was involved."[2]
Some time after the bombing Chesney was questioned by the then Bishop of Derry Neil Farren, and later again by Farren's successor Bishop Edward Daly. At both times Chesney denied any involvement. After his identity and location had been published in a loyalist publication in 1978, Chesney was transferred to a remote parish in the West of Ireland and later to a parish near Desertmartin to Malin Head in County Donegal, where he died in 1980.[2]
In 2004 a loyalist mural appeared on a wall in Lower Newtownards Road, Belfast depicting a priest wearing a ski mask and holding a bomb, alongside the word "Claudy".[7]
Investigation
No person was arrested for the attack at the time but following calls for a new inquiry into the attack, a fresh investigation was started by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in 2002. As part of the investigation the police uncovered documents showing that the then Secretary of State Willie Whitelaw discussed Chesney's involvement with Cardinal William Conway. The actions of two other Catholic priests, Patrick Fell and John Burns, were also examined.[8]
On 30 November 2005, the PSNI detained four people in connection with the bombing attack.[9] However they were released without charge on 1 December 2005, and deny involvement in the bombings.[10] Among those arrested was Sinn Féin MLA Francis Brolly.[11]
On 24 August 2010 Northern Ireland's police ombudsman published a report into the bombing which concluded that the British government and the Catholic church conspired to cover-up the involvement of Chesney in the attack.[12] The report stated: "The arrest of a priest in connection with such an emotive atrocity at a time when sectarian killings in Northern Ireland were out of control and the province stood on the brink of civil war was feared, by senior politicians, as likely to destabilise the security situation even further. A deal was therefore arranged behind closed doors to remove Fr. Chesney from the province without provoking sectarian fury."[12]
According to the report by Al Hutchinson, the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, "The RUC's decision to ask the government to resolve the matter with the Church and then accept the outcome, was wrong. The decision failed those who were murdered, injured and bereaved in the bombing. The police officers who were working on the investigation were also undermined. 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. Equally, I consider that the police failure to investigate someone they suspected of involvement in acts of terrorism could, in itself, have had serious consequences."
Findings in Mr Hutchinson's report disclosed:
- Detectives believed Father Chesney was the IRA's director of operations in south Derry and was a prime suspect in the Claudy attack and other terrorist incidents.
- A detective's request to arrest the cleric was refused by an assistant chief constable of RUC Special Branch who instead said "matters are in hand."
- The same senior officer wrote to the government about what action could be taken to "render harmless a dangerous priest" and asked if the matter could be raised with the Church's hierarchy.
- In December 1972 William Whitelaw met the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal William Conway, to discuss the issue. According to a Northern Ireland Office official "the Cardinal said he knew the priest was 'a very bad man' and would see what could be done." The church leader mentioned "the possibility of transferring him to Donegal..." In response to this memo, RUC Chief Constable Sir Graham Shillington noted: "I would prefer a transfer to Tipperary."
- An entry in Cardinal Conway's diary on December 5 1972 confirmed a meeting with Mr Whitelaw took place and stated there had been "a rather disturbing tete-a-tete at the end about C."
- In another diary entry two months later, the Cardinal noted that he had discussed the issue with Father Chesney's superior and that "the superior however had given him orders to stay where he was, on sick leave, until further notice."
Father Chesney was transferred across the Irish border in Co Donegal in late 1973 and never ministered again in Northern Ireland. According to Church records, he denied involvement in the attacks when questioned by his superiors, but he died seven years later having never faced police interview.
Mr Whitelaw, a minister in Edward Heath's Conservative government, died in 1999, Cardinal Conway in 1977, Sir Graham in 2001 and Father Chesney, aged 46, in 1980.[13]
Victims
- Patrick Connelly, aged 15
- Kathryn Eakin, aged 8
- Arthur Hone, aged 38
- Jim McClelland, aged 65
- Joe McCloskey, aged 39
- Elizabeth McElhinney, aged 59
- Rose McLaughlin, aged 52
- David Miller, aged 60
- Willie Temple, aged 16
Memorial
A memorial to those killed and injured by the bombing was erected on Claudy's Main Street in 2000, consisting of a bronze figure of a kneeling girl, created by sculptor Elizabeth McLaughlin, mounted on a stone plinth. A number of plaques commemorating the victims are affixed to the wall enclosing the statue. The statue was damaged on 20 October 2006 when vandals knocked it from the plinth.[14]
References
- ^ "Priest played central role in atrocity, says SDLP founder". Irish Independent. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "Does this letter prove a priest was behind IRA bombing?". The Guardian. 21 September 2002.
- ^ Starrett, Ian (30 July 1997). "When the heart was ripped out of Claudy; Church leaders plan memorial service 25 years after nine die in village massacre". The News Letter. Belfast. Retrieved 24 August 2010. Archived article at FindArticles.
- ^ Tran, Mark (24 August 2010). "Report due on claims of Claudy bombing priest link". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Simpson, Mark (24 August 2010). "Claudy bomb: A priest who got away with murder". BBC Online. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Bowcott, Owen (24 August 2010). "Claudy bombings cover-up revealed in police report". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "A Directory of Murals - Album 64". CAIN. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Three more IRA priests in Claudy link". The Guardian. 22 December 2002.
- ^ "Four still held on 1972 bombings". BBC. 30 November 2005.
- ^ "Police preparing 1972 bomb report". BBC. 1 December 2005.
- ^ "Four released in Claudy bombing probe". RTE. 1 December 2005.
- ^ a b "Claudy bombing report released - live updates". The Guardian. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Claudy bombing: priest's role in IRA attack 'was covered up'". Daily Telegraph. London. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Mayor Condemns Claudy Vandals". Derry City Council. 23 October 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
External links
- Police Ombudsman's Claudy Report
- Anderson, Bruce (23 December 2002). "Sometimes justice can best be done by not enforcing the criminal law". The Independent
- Irish News Article on the bombing
- CAIN project in context and also here with the 1997 CAIN claims.