| Claudy bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of The Troubles | |
 Memorial plaque in Claudy | |
  | |
| Location | Main Street, Claudy, County Londonderry Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°54′41″N 7°9′17″W / 54.91139°N 7.15472°W |
| Date | 31 July 1972 |
| Target | Unknown |
Attack type | Car bombings |
| Deaths | 9 |
| Injured | 30 |
| Perpetrators | IRA |
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]
- ^ "Priest played central role in atrocity, says SDLP founder". Irish Independent. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Guardian1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ 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
- ^ Tran, Mark (24 August 2010). "Report due on claims of Claudy bombing priest link". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Claudy bomb: Who was Father James Chesney?". BBC News. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ "Priests role covered up in Claudy bombing". Irish Examiner. 20 December 2002. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ "Claudy bombing: 'Police suspension of investigation beggars belief given wealth of evidence uncovered'". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ Simpson, Mark (24 August 2010). "Claudy bomb: A priest who got away with murder". BBC News. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ Bowcott, Owen (24 August 2010). "Claudy bombings cover-up revealed in police report". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2010.