Catholic priest's involvement in bombing covered up by British deep state

[Jan Klimkowski]

Meanwhile, in an article from 2006, Ruairi O'Bradaigh, a former IRA chief of staff, states that Fr Chesney told him that he had no involvement in the Claudy bombing.

Note that Ruairi O'Bradaigh split from Sinn Féin, and Adams and McGuinness, in 1986, and formed Republican Sinn Féin, which is alleged to have a military wing known as the Continuity IRA.

It is claimed that Republican Sinn Féin's relationship with the Continuity IRA is similar to the relationship between Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA when Ó Brádaigh was Sinn Féin's President

Former IRA chief says priest had no link to bombing
Published Date: 31 October 2006

A FORMER IRA Chief of Staff has revealed for the first time that a Catholic priest linked to the 1972 Claudy car bombings - in which nine people were killed - later told him he had "nothing whatsoever to do" with the atrocity.

By SEAN McLAUGHLIN

Ruairi O'Bradaigh, president of Republican Sinn Fein party, has said he has been compelled to speak out in defence of Fr. James Chesney - who died in 1980 - following repeated allegations that the priest masterminded the July 31, 1972, explosions.

Mr. O'Bradaigh said it must be distressing for the late priest's relatives, colleagues in the priesthood, parishioners and friends to continually hear him publicly accused of involvement in the bombing.

He told the 'Journal': "Since no one has come forward, I wish to put on record a conversation I had with Fr. Chesney in the 1970s.

"At a meeting in Sligo he approached me as a person he could trust. He said that rumours had been circulated that he was associated with what had happened in Claudy. He said he felt this was done because he was known to be sympathetic to the republican cause.

"He said he was on holidays in Donegal at the time the explosions took place and had heard of them through the media. He said he had nothing whatever to do with the bombings."

The Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan is expected to publish a report on the 1972 Claudy bombings inside the next month.

In recent days a number of media outlets have claimed that Ms O'Loan, who has been investigating the bombings, is preparing to report that the Catholic Church, the then RUC and the British government did indeed conspire to cover-up.

She was unavailable for comment last night.

Former IRA leader Ruairi O'Bradaigh told the 'Journal' last night that he has spoken up about the late Fr James Chesney in the face of repeated allegations that he was involved in the bombings.

He said he felt it was his "duty to fulfil the trust put in me all those years ago".

He added: "For my part I fully accept what Fr. Chesney told me" about not being involved in the bombings.

Four years ago, the retired Bishop of Derry, Dr. Edward Daly, rejected a claim that the Catholic Church colluded in a cover-up to conceal Fr. Chesney's alleged involvement in the Claudy bombings.

Dr. Daly spoke out after a local unionist politician said she had received a letter, purporting to have been written by a priest, in which he alleged that Fr. Chesney had admitted to him his role in the atrocity.

Former SDLP MP Ivan Cooper has also said he was "convinced beyond doubt" that Fr. Chesney was a member of a nine-strong IRA unit which carried out the bombings.

However, speaking in 2002, Bishop Daly - who was appointed Derry's bishop two years after the Claudy bombs - said no evidence existed to prove Fr. Chesney's involvement, nor was there any evidence to substantiate the church cover-up claim.

At that time, Dr. Daly remarked: "Whilst it is a fact that the only people who know the full truth are those who were involved in that dreadful atrocity, I am inclined to the view that Fr. Chesney was a victim of his own frequently and publicly expressed republican views in the early 1970s."

http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/Form...1850104.jp