Claudy bombing

Claudy bombing
Part of The Troubles
Memorial plaque in Claudy
Claudy bombing is located in Northern Ireland
Claudy bombing
LocationMain Street, Claudy,
County Londonderry
Northern Ireland
Coordinates54°54′41″N 7°9′17″W / 54.91139°N 7.15472°W / 54.91139; -7.15472
Date31 July 1972
TargetUnknown
Attack type
Car bombings
Deaths9
Injured30
PerpetratorsIRA

The Claudy bombing occurred on 31 July 1972, when three car bombs exploded mid-morning, two on Main Street and one on Church Street in Claudy in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The attack killed nine civilians, injured thirty and became known as "Bloody Monday".[1] Those who planted the bombs had attempted to send a warning before the explosions took place. The warning was delayed, however, because the telephones were out of order due to an earlier bomb attack.[2] The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) issued an immediate denial of responsibility,[2][3] and later stated that "an internal court of inquiry" had found that its local unit did not carry out the attack.[4] On the thirtieth anniversary of the bombing, there was a review of the case and in December 2002 it was revealed that the IRA had been responsible for the bomb explosions.[5][6][7]

On 24 August 2010, following an eight-year investigation, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland published a report into the bombing, which stated that the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) believed in the early 1970s that Father James Chesney, a local Roman Catholic priest, was the IRA's quartermaster and Director of Operations of the South Derry Brigade.[8] The report found that the possibility of his involvement in activities including the Claudy bombing was covered up by senior police officers, government ministers and the Roman Catholic hierarchy.[9]

  1. ^ "Priest played central role in atrocity, says SDLP founder". Irish Independent. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Guardian1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Starrett, Ian (30 July 1997). "When the heart was ripped out of Claudy". News Letter. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010. Archived article at HighBeam Research
  4. ^ Tran, Mark (24 August 2010). "Report due on claims of Claudy bombing priest link". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Claudy bomb: Who was Father James Chesney?". BBC News. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Priests role covered up in Claudy bombing". Irish Examiner. 20 December 2002. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Claudy bombing: 'Police suspension of investigation beggars belief given wealth of evidence uncovered'". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. ^ Simpson, Mark (24 August 2010). "Claudy bomb: A priest who got away with murder". BBC News. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  9. ^ Bowcott, Owen (24 August 2010). "Claudy bombings cover-up revealed in police report". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2010.