RUC 'Scapegoat' For Claudy

A former RUC man has been reacting to claims that colleagues in the force may have colluded in the Claudy bomb cover-up.

The retired Inspector - who must remain anonymous for his own safety and was shot and seriously wounded in an IRA attempt to murder him in Belfast - has this afternoon insisted that the police are being "scapegoated".

On the issue of the now dead priest Father James Chesney's removal across the Irish border after allegations of his role in the bloody IRA atrocity came to light, he said: "Claims by the Ombudsman that the Royal Ulster Constabulary was guilty of a "collusive act" should actually read that "senior police officers at the time wanted to pursue prosecutions against those involved but were stymied by Government".

He claimed that the former NIO Secretary of State William Whitelaw's nickname, 'Willie Whitewash' as the late Viscount was known was a direct result of just such activities.

"Once again the RUC is being made a scapegoat for the underhand actions of the Government, in this instance coupled with the Roman Catholic Church.

"Their own record in relation to cover-ups is shocking testimony to its lack of action in relation to priests and others who have committed horrific crimes," he said.

Meanwhile, the current Secretary of State has been giving his view on the long awaited Police Ombudsman's report on the Claudy bombing.

He said that the Ombudsman's remit was to investigate evidence relating to the conduct of the RUC, "but it is right that I respond to his observations on the role of the Government of the day".

Owen Patterson said: "The Claudy bombing was a terrible atrocity carried out by terrorists during the bloodiest year of the Troubles.

"I absolutely condemn the actions of the terrorists who were responsible. It was a despicable and evil act carried out by despicable and evil people," he said.

"My anger at the actions of those responsible for the attack is matched in strength by my sorrow that the survivors of the atrocity and the relatives of the dead did not see those responsible brought to justice.

"I recognise, of course, that all those involved in combating terrorism at the time were making decisions in exceptionally difficult circumstances and under extreme pressure."

Then he implicitly points the finger at the RUC and said that, in respect to the Government, "the Police Ombudsman's investigation found no evidence of any criminal intent on the part of any Government Minister or official".

Owen Paterson continued: "In his conclusions, the Ombudsman finds that the RUC decision not to investigate Chesney was 'wrong' and 'contrary to a fundamental duty of police to investigate those suspected of criminality'.

"The PSNI have expressed their regret that opportunities to arrest and interview all of the suspects were not taken in 1972," he continued.

"For my part, on behalf of the Government, I am profoundly sorry that Father Chesney was not properly investigated for his suspected involvement in this hideous crime."

He also said that, the only document referring to discussions is the letter of 6th December 1972 quoted in the Ombudsman's report.

"In the interests of transparency I am publishing the document and will send a copy to the Public Record Office in Northern Ireland, the National Archives and the Linenhall Library," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Sir Reg Empey, the Ulster Unionist party leader has condemned the 'failure' of the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, to apologise for the atrocity, even though the cardinal insisted that the actions of Cardinal Conway or any other Church authority at the time "did not prevent the possibility of future arrest and questioning of Fr Chesney".

Sir Reg said: "The statement made by Cardinal Brady is, unfortunately, entirely inadequate.

"In particular, the absence of an apology to the victims of Claudy falls very far short of what should be expected of church leaders in the exercise of their position of moral authority."

He also said that the "findings of the Ombudsman's report makes for depressing reading" commenting, "it is clear that certain actions of the RUC and the Secretary of State were wrong and should not have happened".

But, he posed the question: "Was the RUC acting independently or whether they were under political direction?" and added, "We should never forget who the perpetrators of this atrocity were."

"Republicans should provide a full and honest account of the Claudy bombing.

"In light of the role of the Deputy First Minister in the Provisional IRA in Londonderry in 1972, he also should make an apology for the Republican movement's actions on that day," the Stormont Executive Minister concluded.

(BMcC/GK)