Call for cross-border police co-operation

Mark Eakin, whose sister Kathryn was killed aged just nine, when three car bombs decimated the County Londonderry town of Claudy in July 1972 has also called for greater co-operation between police services on both sides of the border.

Just weeks before the first anniversary of the launch of the Police Ombudsman’s report into the Claudy attacks, Mr Eakin has stated his belief that there is “a lot more” information out there in relation to the attack that needs to be brought into the public realm.

Reacting to a report last week by human rights watchdog, the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) which heavily criticised the Police Ombudsman’s office, including the way in which it handles historical cases, Mark Eakin told the Londonderry Sentinel: “There is much more to come that could be investigated.”

Calling for a “joint PSNI and Gardai approach” to the events of July 31, 1972 which claimed nine lives and seriously wounded scores of others, Mark Eakin continued: “There are people south of the border that need to be interviewed. As well as that, they know that people should be interviewed but the PSNI cannot pursue them. If I went over to Letterkenny and ripped and tore that town apart, their police would pursue me-something would happen.

“The police should have joint facilities in place where they can request to have someone arrested and where the PSNI can go down to Dublin and interview them and vice versa. This is the way things need to be if we are to have a ‘happy Ireland’ as I call it.

UUP Alderman Mary Hamilton, who was seriously injured in the attack has reiterated her belief that the families of the victims have at least the right to learn the truth of what happened that day almost 40 years ago.

Mrs Hamilton also believes there is more information available to prompt a full public investigation into the atrocity and last year petitioned Prime Minister David Cameron to launch such a probe.

Speaking to the Sentinel Mary Hamilton said: “I believe we have a right to that information. People are always saying we need to move on and we must ‘forgive and forget“. But, I am calling on all people in government and high office to come clean and tell us the truth so the families in Claudy can move forward and if people are found guilty they should be led to justice. Why should they be protected?” she asked.

Reacting to the comments and concerns of both Mark Eakin and Mary Hamilton a spokesperson for the PSNI commented that the investigation into the Claudy attacks was still a live one.

A PSNI spokeswoman told the Sentinel: “An initial assessment of potential lines of enquiry has been conducted and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed. Inquiries are continuing.”

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However, a spokesperson for the Police Ombudsman’s office dismissed the comments of both Mr Eakin and Mrs Hamilton that further information existed that could greatly progress a wider investigation. Last year’s Ombudsman’s report into the Claudy attack which took almost a decade to produce, was limited to the examination of the RUC handling of the investigation into the attack.

It concluded that in all probability there was collusion between police, Catholic church hierarchy and the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to stymie the investigation.

A spokesperson for the Police Ombudsman told the Sentinel that with regard to information “there was nothing additional on Claudy”.

And responding to the criticism levied by the CAJ on its handling of historical cases the spokesperson stated: “The Police Ombudsman on 15, June, 2011, had first sight of the Review of the Office of the police ombudsman of Northern Ireland.

“After an initial review, it is clear the report does not include a balanced view of the issues surrounding the investigation of historical matters, nor reflects the structural changes implemented to allow the office to deal with the doubling of historical cases in the past three years.

“The Police Ombudsman does welcome the CAJ discussion around collusion, even though they do not provide a definition. Last year he said it was time for society to begin a discussion about what collusion is and is not.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that the Police Ombudsman will prepare a response to the CAJ report which will be made available to the public.”