The Catholic Church in Northern Ireland is set to admit that a priest was the leader of an IRA unit that exploded a bomb in 1972 that killed nine people, five Catholics and four Protestants including an eight -year-old girl. Thirty people were injured.

Police ombudsman (overseer) Al Hutchinson is expected to verify that the Royal Ulster Constabulary the British government and the Catholic Church covered up for the priest, Father James Chesney (left) who was never charged and moved to a new parish.

Hutchinson will reveal that the RUC at the time had top-grade intelligence that Chesney was a senior figure in the IRA unit that planted three car bombs in the County Derry village of Claudy in 1972.

The then Catholic primate of all Ireland , Cardinal William Conway, and the then Northern secretary William Whitelaw, were made aware by police of Father Chesney’s alleged involvement.

Chesney was subsequently moved to a parish in Co. Donegal but was never arrested or interviewed about the bombing or any other IRA activity. He passed away in 1980.

mrjonno wrote:Best to leave this in the past, Northern Ireland has moved on this really is a case of opening up old wounds

mrjonno wrote:Best to leave this in the past, Northern Ireland has moved on this really is a case of opening up old wounds

Calum wrote:

mrjonno wrote:Best to leave this in the past, Northern Ireland has moved on this really is a case of opening up old wounds

It's probably going to be a story. The families, who have been in the dark about who was responsible, are being briefed today by the Police Ombudsman. If true, the story involves a conspiracy between the British Government and the Catholic Church not to prosecute a bomber and killer because he was a priest.

mrjonno wrote:

Calum wrote:

mrjonno wrote:Best to leave this in the past, Northern Ireland has moved on this really is a case of opening up old wounds

It's probably going to be a story. The families, who have been in the dark about who was responsible, are being briefed today by the Police Ombudsman. If true, the story involves a conspiracy between the British Government and the Catholic Church not to prosecute a bomber and killer because he was a priest.

These sort of things are really want official secrets act is for, this sort of information should be revealed in say 50 years or so not now. The objective at the moment should be peace, if we didnt consider this more important than justice we wouldnt be letting murders out of jail (something which was neccessary)

I don't get your point. Are you arguing that releasing this information now is going to inflame the situation in Northern Ireland?

Claudy bomb: relatives' justice call over 'IRA priest'
Fr James Chesney The report said police believed Fr James Chesney was an IRA leader and was involved in the bombing

Justice must be served for nine people killed in NI bombings who were "failed" by a cover-up of a priest's suspected role, victims' relatives have said.

The 1972 bombings in Claudy were among the worst atrocities of the Troubles.

The Police Ombudsman found talks between the Catholic Church, the police and the government led to a priest suspected of involvement in the attack being moved to the Irish Republic.

No action was ever taken against Father James Chesney, who died in 1980.

pennypitstop wrote:

mrjonno wrote:Best to leave this in the past, Northern Ireland has moved on this really is a case of opening up old wounds

Absolutely not. Expose the utter bastards on both sides of the conflict to see how pathetic and vicious people can be especially those apparently appointed by their god to dish out killings. Fuck 'em all. You can't hide the past. It needs exposing for with it was to help prevent it happening in the future.

HughMcB wrote:The Gardai in Ireland have been in bed with the Catholic church for fucking decades

james1v wrote:Its no surprise. Not when you consider the catholic churches actions during the second world war (50% of the death camps in Croatia, run by Jesuit priests). Par for the course really.

nunnington wrote:
Your comment that this priest's actions are 'par for the course' are a bit odd also, since Irish priests in general fiercely denounced PIRA, and were often vilified for this.

nunnington wrote:I'm not sure this is a scandal about the Catholic Church,