There must be a public inquiry into the 1972 IRA bombing of Claudy, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has demanded.

Mr Trimble's call follows a police statement alleging a cover-up by the government and the Catholic Church to prevent the unmasking of a priest involved in the attack.

Nine people, including three children, were killed when three IRA car bombs exploded in the County Londonderry village.

David Trimble. Call for inquiry

David Trimble said: "We have been hearing over the last weeks and months a public inquiry into the deaths of innocent people on Bloody Sunday on which it's been suggested that there was some sort of official cover up in terms of what happened and there clearly isn't.

"But now we're in a situation where there has been, or it has been suggested there has been, a cover up of the murder of innocent people in Claudy.

"I would hope that that issue is pursued and inquired into with the same vigour and with the same public result as the Bloody Sunday Inquiry," he said.

Case review

Government sources said they believed the best time to consider any calls for a judicial inquiry into the Claudy bombing would be after the current police investigation was complete.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said that while he was cautious about the allegations, he would support a call for an inquiry if it came from the victims' relatives.

"I am more than happy to support families that are campaigning for the truth," he said.

"Mr Trimble seems to be more interested in seizing on these issues for his own purposes but certainly there is an issue of injustice here and everybody should be helping the familes as best they can."

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said an appropriate form of inquiry "should be used to ascertain the truth about the events surrounding the Claudy bomb".

"If what is in the police statement is true it raise serious issues of concern," he said.

"If it is not true other serious issues are raised. What is imperative is that families have as much truth about the events as can be established."

The police statement on Friday followed a review of the case.

Certainly there is an issue of injustice here and everybody should be helping the familes as best they can Gerry Adams Sinn Fein

The PSNI said it would not identify the priest - but it is believed to be Father Jim Chesney, who died in 1980.

Its statement alleged that the then Northern Ireland Secretary William Whitelaw and Cardinal William Conway, the Catholic Primate of all-Ireland, discussed the outrage and the activities of the priest.

Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty said he would look at the information "very seriously" and examine it carefully.

"Considering the seriousness of the subject matter, I wish to take time to give adequate consideration to it before making a response."

The bishop added that the police allegations constituted "new material that until now has been unknown to the Derry Diocese".

The DUP's Ian Paisley Junior demanded an immediate apology for the relatives from the prime minister and the Pope for "the great sin visited upon the people".

Dr Seamus Hegarty: "Adequate consideration"

The North Antrim assembly member said it was essential the government provided the means for a proper inquiry without delay.

Ivan Cooper, who was the MP for the area at the time of the attack, said he believed there was an attempt to cover up the priest's alleged involvement.

"This is the first occasion I've been made aware that Cardinal Conway met Secretary of State Whitelaw," said Mr Cooper.

"It does appear to me that there has been some sort of accommodation. What the nature of that is, I am not aware of."