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Victim's brother demands Bloody Sunday inquiry be widened

Two former Official IRA members may be face prosecution over Bloody Sunday.
Two former Official IRA members may be face prosecution over Bloody Sunday. Two former Official IRA members may be face prosecution over Bloody Sunday.

A brother of a teenager killed on Bloody Sunday has called on police to widen their investigation to consider non-lethal actions of soldiers on the day.

John Kelly made his appeal after it was revealed that two former Official IRA men may be prosecuted over their actions Bloody Sunday.

In a letter to Bloody Sunday relatives, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) revealed that two former official IRA men were being investigated along with 18 former soldiers.

It emerged at the Saville Inquiry into the 1972 deaths that the Official IRA fired a number of shots on Bloody Sunday although no-one was injured by them.

An Official IRA member, accompanied by a second member, fired a shot at a Parachute Regiment post at William Street in Derry 15 minutes before soldiers entered the Bogside. The single shot was fired after two Parachute regiment members fired five shots, wounding Damien Donaghy and John Johnston (who later died). Lord Saville concluded that this shot was fired after the British army opened fire.

It is not known if these two former Official IRA men are those being considered by the PPS.

A PPS spokesman said: “We can confirm that one further suspect has been added to the case recently with a further report expected (second suspect).”

However, Mr Kelly, whose brother, Michael (18) was shot dead, said that if the investigation was being widened to consider actions other than killings, it was only right that all issues be investigated.

He called on police and the PPS to investigate how nail bombs were found on the body of teenage victim, Gerard Donaghy. Witnesses have always claimed the nail bombs were planted on his body after he was shot.

“If they are looking at actions beyond the killings, they should also investigate the role of army officers on the day and the brutality of the soldiers on the day,” Mr Kelly said.

Ulster Unionist justice spokesman, Doug Beattie welcomed the PPS move and called on Sinn Féin to explain the role of the IRA on Bloody Sunday. He said the Saville Inquiry concluded that former deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness was “probably” armed on the day.

“Martin McGuinness, feted in death, was in life one of those who ignited a volatile situation,” he said.

Mr Beattie said the latest development showed there was “another narrative” to Bloody Sunday.