Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has revealed he made a deathbed visit to the priest suspected of the 1972 Claudy bombing, despite previously claiming he had never met him.
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Father James Chesney, who died from cancer in 1980, aged 46, was never questioned by police despite being suspected of involvement in the attack.
Mr McGuinness, who had previously denied knowing the parish priest, said that during their 25minute meeting, which was requested by Fr Chesney shortly before his death, the Claudy bombs were not mentioned.
He said the priest spoke of his goal of a united Ireland.
"I knew absolutely nothing about Father Chesney whatsoever before, during or for many years after the Claudy bombing. I will go on to say, as the years progressed, I did become familiar with his name. Whenever he was dying with a very serious illness, I was asked, would I go to meet with him in Donegal? And I did go to see him", Mr McGuinness confirmed on Wednesday.
"I knew absolutely nothing about any connection with Claudy even at this stage or about any allegations against him. I wasn't aware of it and there were no discussions about it during our very short conversation, which lasted maybe 25 minutes, and it never came up. What was clear is that he was very supportive of the republican movement".
Mr McGuinness also denied that the Derry brigade of the IRA, of which he was a 22-year-old member in 1972, had any involvement in the Claudy attacks.
Nine people were killed and 30 were injured in the Co Londonderry village when three car bombs exploded in quick succession on 31 July 1972.
Last month, a Police Ombudsman report found police, church and state colluded to protect the Catholic priest, who was transferred in 1973 to a parish in Co Donegal outside the Northern Ireland jurisdiction.
Apology
In the House of Commons, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg reiterated an apology on behalf of the Government for the cover-up.
But he re-stated the Government's view that there would be no public inquiry into the bombing.
"The Government is profoundly sorry that Father Chesney was not properly investigated for his suspected involvement in this hideous crime at the time and that the victims and their families have quite simply been denied justice."
"However, I do also want to reiterate that although after the attack the Government acted wrongly in not insisting that the RUC properly investigate Father Chesney, it was terrorists that were responsible for this despicable and evil attack which took innocent lives including that of an eight- yea-old girl".
"A public inquiry isn't being considered on the grounds that there isn't simply likely to be any further evidence to consider."
Mr Clegg, who was standing in for Prime Minister David Cameron, was answering a question from East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell.
The 1972 Claudy bombing occurred six months after Bloody Sunday on the bloodiest month of the bloodiest year of the Troubles.
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