A former senior member of the SDLP said yesterday he was "absolutely convinced" that a Catholic priest played a central role in one of Northern Ireland's worst bombing atrocities.
Mr Ivan Cooper, a former MP and a former Minister for Community Relations in the Northern Ireland power-sharing Assembly, claimed the priest was a member of a nine-strong Provisional IRA unit which planted three car-bombs in the Co Derry village of Claudy on July 31st, 1972.
Nine people were killed when the car-bombs exploded on the same day that the British army launched Operation Motorman in Derry, aimed at retrieving control of the no-go areas of the Bogside and Creggan from the Provisional IRA.
Mr Cooper, a native of Claudy, was MP for the Mid Derry constituency at the time of the Claudy atrocity, which became known as Bloody Monday.
Following allegations earlier this week that the priest was OC of the South Derry brigade of the Provisional IRA, the unit allegedly responsible for carrying out the atrocity, Mr Cooper said he had known for more than 20 years of the priest's alleged involvement.
The priest, who died in 1980, was never questioned by the police about his alleged involvement in the atrocity.
He was, however, questioned by the then Bishop of Derry, Dr Neil Farren, and by retired Bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Daly, about the claims.
In his recently published autobiography, Bishop Daly said he interviewed the priest twice about the claims and that on both occasions the priest "vehemently denied the allegations".
Yesterday, however, Mr Cooper said both the Catholic Church and the police have known for several years the identities of those responsible for the Claudy bombings.
Referring to the priest, he said: "I also believe that he held rank in the South Derry unit of the Provisional IRA which carried out the operation.
"I have no doubt about that whatsoever and I don't care what denials are made by them or silence operated by them. I think it's time now for the Provisional IRA to acknowledge that they carried out that heinous atrocity.
"I know it's a very serious thing to say that a priest played a pivotal role in one of the North's worst atrocities, but I carefully checked out my facts and I am aware of the seriousness of the allegation I am making," Mr Cooper said.
He said he never before stated in public his knowledge that the priest was involved, but he had to answer the question "when it was put to me and I had to answer it honestly".