AN EAGERLY-awaited report into claims that there was a high-level cover-up of a Catholic priest's alleged involvement in the 1972 Claudy bombings will be published later this month, it's been revealed.
Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan's report will come four years after the PSNI revealed that re-discovered documents revealed details of talks over a Co. Derry priest's alleged involvement in the Claudy atrocity in which nine people died.
While he was n
ever questioned about the bombings, Fr. James Chesney was transferred from a south Derry parish to Donegal - where he died in 1980 - after the case was reportedly discussed privately by the-then Secretary of State William Whitelaw and the late Catholic Primate, Cardinal William Conway.
The Ombudsman's office this week confirmed that its report will be released this month.
"The finishing touches are being put to this report," said a spokesman. "It will be released on a date in November but the process is still ongoing and we cannot comment further."
However, sources have indicated that the document may include details that "could cause embarrassment" for the Catholic Church, British government and police.
"Basically, the report will confirm a lot of what (PSNI Assistant Chief Constable] Sam Kincaid said in his announcement a few years ago," said a source.
A police review was triggered when an anonymous letter - allegedly written by a priest but which has never been authenticated - materialised. Following this, the Ombudsman began preparing a report.
In December 2002, PSNI ACC Sam Kinkaid informed relatives of the nine people killed of the concerns expressed over the priest's alleged involvement.
He said material from 1972 indicated that an unnamed priest - identified elsewhere as Fr. Chesney - "was a member of the Provisional IRA and was actively involved in terrorism".
He said RUC intelligence linked him to the Claudy bombs and that records showed he provided an alibi for a person suspected of playing a prominent role in the no-warning blasts.
'Spirited away'
"There was talk at the time of (the priest) being 'spirited away' and that issue will be clarified."
Billy Eakin, father of the youngest victim of the bombings, nine-year-old Kathryn, said he is looking forward to reading the report.
"I hope this will shed some light on what happened. I look forward very much to reading it," he said.
Earlier this week, the 'Journal' revealed that Father Chesney told a former IRA Chief of Staff that he had no involvement in the Claudy outrage.
Ruari O'Bradaigh, president of Republican Sinn Fein, said the priest told him in the late 1970s that he had "nothing whatever to do with the bombings".
