Dear Prime Minister...

RE: OMBUDSMAN REPORT, CLAUDY ATROCITY – 1972.

Since the revelation some days ago of findings contained in the Police Ombudsman's Report into the Claudy terrorist atrocity in 1972 which resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives, young and old, I have been in regular contact with family members of the victims, of which I am one, and feel compelled to write to you on the matter..

Since the publication of the Report I have had time to reflect and feel a growing dissatisfaction and unease at the outcome of a Report which raises more questions than it answers.

Whilst short on detail, the Report at least makes it clear that the Claudy families have been victims of a conspiracy which involved the government of the day, the forces of law and order and the Roman Catholic Church.

Whilst identifying an individual, now deceased, as being at the centre if the conspiracy it fails to apportion responsibility and due to the failure to follow due process at the time renders the individual and his actions an 'unproven' verdict in which regrettably, some of his co-religionists are taking refuge.

Not so long ago I witnessed the very public outcome of the Bloody Sunday Enquiry which brought justice to the families and , whilst not excusing its actions, at least showed the accountability and leadership of a British Prime Minister in being willing to take responsibility for the past wrongs of a previous government.

The families of Claudy cannot, and should not be expected to, accept less and I am therefore calling upon the government to take whatever actions it must to ensure that there is full disclosure of all the events pertaining to the Claudy .

Whilst the Historical Enquiry Team is to conduct a review, I am of the view that due to the nature of the findings of the Ombudsman's Report and the guarded and cautious response of institutions involved, a fuller and more open Enquiry is necessitated.

This would be more likely to ensure that the motives which informed the conspiracy on the last 38 years are not able to prevail today

Further, I would find it difficult to believe that there is a lack of documentary evidence which would shed light on events and we are all aware of individuals, central to events, then and now, who have been willing to attend other Enquiries, who I feel sure are likely to have information which they could make available.

Even if belatedly, the innocent victims and the families, who, unlike others who have been treated differently, were not engaged in activities which were a challenge to the law, deserve full and unequivocal disclosure and I call upon the government to ensure that this is the case.

yours

Mary Hamilton