Relatives of three victims murdered in the Claudy bombs are to receive pay-outs in civil claims against the PSNI and British Government, it has been confirmed.
Confidential settlements were confirmed at the High Court in cases brought for investigative errors in the 1972 incident when the main suspect was a Catholic priest.
No admission of wrongdoing has been made by either defendant in a case focusing on damaging revelations that senior police officers conspired with the church and the state to protect Father James Chesney.
Nine people were killed when three no-warning bombs detonated in the Co Londonderry village on July 31, 1972.
Dozens of others were injured in the mass killing for which the IRA was blamed but never claimed responsibility.
In 2010 a Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman study uncovered a major cover-up to shield Father Chesney.
He was believed to be the IRA's director of operations in south Derry, and a main suspect in the Claudy attacks as well as other terror attacks.
But documents at the time revealed that a deal was arranged behind closed doors to remove him from the jurisdiction.
He was transferred to a parish in Co Donegal following covert conversations between the former Northern Ireland Secretary of State William Whitelaw and the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal William Conway, according to records.
Chesney died in 1980 without ever being interviewed by police, and no one has been brought to account for the Claudy bombings since.
Following the release of the Ombudsman's report bereaved relatives launched legal action against the Chief Constable, the Northern Ireland Office and the Catholic Diocese of Derry.
Claims were submitted by David Temple, who lost his 16-year-old brother William; James Miller, whose grandfather David Miller, 60, was among those murdered; and Colin McClelland and Tracy Deans on behalf of their 64-year-old uncle, Thomas McClelland.
The resolutions in the three claims against the police and Northern Ireland Office constitute the first time pay-outs have been granted for investigation errors in a suspected IRA tragedy.
In a statement, the families' legal representatives, KRW Law, confirmed: "Our clients have instructed us to discontinue the legal action against the Chief Constable of the PSNI and the NIO, who have agreed a full and final settlement without any admission of liability. "The sum of the settlement is to remain confidential, and the PSNI and the NIO have agreed to pay the costs of our clients up to the date of this agreement."
Proceedings against the Diocese of Derry are continuing, with a trial in that action expected to take place next year.
"The Temple, Miller and McClelland families... wish to place on record their anger and disgust at the attitude of the Church to date within the legal proceedings," their lawyers said.
"The families would like to finally say that they were deeply disappointed in the lack of a proper investigation into the murder of their loved ones by the Police.
"However, they would like to place on record a sense of appreciation for the mature attitude displayed by the Police and the NIO at mediation which assisted the families in understanding some serious failings by the state."
Solicitor Kevin Winters also repeated his concerns about measures to stop Troubles-related prosecutions, civil proceedings and inquests.
He said: "If the British Government had its way this type of case wouldn't be on here today." ends
To date I don’t think any so-called human rights groups such as the Pat Finucane Centre & Relatives For Justice have yet carried out any report or investigation in this or any IRA atrocities..🤔
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