11/06/2010

 

 

The government has been forced to deny reports that the long awaited Bloody Sunday enquiry has found that soldiers unlawfully killed civilians during the day of clashes 38 years ago.

Thirteen people on a civil rights match were shot dead by paratroops in Londonderry on 30 January 1972.

The conclusions of the £191 million public inquiry set up by Tony Blair in 1998 in an effort to kick-start the Northern Ireland peace process will finally be announced on Tuesday.

There has been a growing expectation that the report would conclude the shootings were unlawful after the inquiry heard evidence that those killed, who included seven teenagers, were unarmed.

But the contents of the report, which was completed several weeks ago, have been a closely guarded secret and strict measures have been put in place so that even relatives of the dead will only be told the contents a few hours before publication.

However, according to reports in The Guardian yesterday, sources familiar with the report’s contents had disclosed that Lord Saville would indeed describe some of the killings as unlawful.

The government said such speculation added to the stress of those involved.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Office said: "The report will be published in a few days and everyone can read it then.

"The people directly affected by all of this - the families of those killed and injured, and the soldiers - have waited a long time for this report, and speculation of this kind only adds to the stress and anxiety that they must all feel."

The Guardian have not seen the report but have been briefed by people who may have seen it, believed to be political rather than military sources.

It was also disclosed last night that Lord Trimble, the former Northern Ireland First Minister, warned Tony Blair at the time that setting up a new inquiry ran the risk of “soldiers in the dock”.

A total of 27 protesters were shot, 13 of them fatally, by members of the Parachute Regiment in a disastrous operation to maintain order during a march against the internment of paramilitary suspects without trial on Jan 30, 1972.

A fourteenth man died from his injuries later.

The killings proved to be a pivotal moment in the Troubles and have long been characterised as a major “recruiting sergeant” for the Provisional IRA.

The inquiry findings are to be published next Tuesday following the longest legal process in British history.

A finding of unlawful killing against soldiers is certain to produce new bitterness and tension in Northern Ireland.

Prosecutors will need to decide whether success is likely for any prosecution and whether it would be in the public interest.

One key question is whether a court could rely on the memories of witnesses to an event that took place so long ago.

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