Cover-up betrayed families and victims

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has said the findings of the Police Ombudsman report into the Claudy Bombings showed that decisions made during the investigation betrayed the families of those who lost loved ones or who were injured in the attack.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Aug 2010, 16:22 BST

He said: "The report by the Police Ombudsman into the bombs in Claudy in 1972 is extremely damning.

"We need to remember first and foremost this atrocity was entirely the responsibility of the IRA.

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"The travesty that happened then in relation to the investigation clearly is deemed by the Police Ombudsman to be an act of collusion.

"It is evident from this report that wrong decisions were made and the police investigation was undermined.

"This not only betrayed the victims' families but also betrayed the diligent investigatory officers in the RUC at the time who wanted to follow where the evidence led.

"No-one in Special Branch should have gone for a different course. The Secretary of State should not have gone for a different course.

Do your duty

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"And a Church leader in talking to State authorities should have been saying to people 'do your duty'.

"The remit of the Ombudsman's investigation was only to examine whether the police discharged their duty in relation to the bombings.

"But it is evident that the Claudy bombings were not the work of just one man and others were involved.

"It is imperative that the families have as much truth about the events of that day established and anyone with information as to what happened or who was involved must bring it forward to help in that process.

"The comfort and consideration of the victims' families should be of key concern today."

Related topics:FoyleSDLP