Northern Ireland

Bloody Sunday soldier prosecutions were always a 'key demand' for families

Lord Saville of Newdigate chaired one of the most detailed inquiries in British legal history. Picture by Brian Little/PA Wire
Lord Saville of Newdigate chaired one of the most detailed inquiries in British legal history. Picture by Brian Little/PA Wire Lord Saville of Newdigate chaired one of the most detailed inquiries in British legal history. Picture by Brian Little/PA Wire

Ahead of this morning's announcement, the Bloody Sunday families said today's decision on the possible prosecution of former soldiers who killed their loved ones has always been one of their key demands.

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced this morning that one soldier will be prosecuted following an extensive nine-year PSNI investigation into the 1972 killings.

Following the 2010 conclusion of the Saville inquiry, police commenced an investigation into the actions of 18 former soldiers and two former Official IRA men. One of the soldiers, known as Soldier N died last year.

In an interview in advance of day's decision, Lord Saville, whose inquiry concluded that all victims were innocent, said the sole purpose of his investigation was to establish what had happened.

Read More

  • Rollercoaster journey for lawyers who became detectives to seek truth for Bloody Sunday victims

The British law lord said: "Some thought that those soldiers who were found responsible should be prosecuted but overall the campaign for Bloody Sunday originally was for an inquiry to find out what happened and why, rather than a question of prosecutions."

However families of the victims said yesterday they have always been on record as seeking prosecutions.

John Kelly, whose brother, Michael was one of those killed, said it was always one of their key demands.

John Kelly at the Bloody Sunday memorial in the Derry Bogside. His brother Michael Kelly was one of the victims who was shot dead. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
John Kelly at the Bloody Sunday memorial in the Derry Bogside. His brother Michael Kelly was one of the victims who was shot dead. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin John Kelly at the Bloody Sunday memorial in the Derry Bogside. His brother Michael Kelly was one of the victims who was shot dead. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

"When we started out in our campaign for a new inquiry in 1992, we listed three demands. These were that we get a new inquiry to repudiate the Widgery Inquiry (1972), that all of the victims be declared innocent and that the soldiers responsible be prosecuted," Mr Kelly said.

Police conducting the murder investigation had to re-interview many of the witnesses despite the fact that Saville was acknowledged as being one of the most detailed inquiries ever undertaken.

Read More

  • Bloody Sunday: A timeline of the campaign
  • Bloody Sunday: Civil Rights march was organised to protest against internment

As witnesses to Saville were given a guarantee that they could not incriminate themselves before the inquiry, their evidence could not be used in a criminal investigation.

The Saville inquiry opened on April 3 1998 with oral hearings starting in March 2000. The inquiry was established by then prime minister, Tony Blair following a long campaign by the Bloody Sunday families against the findings of the 1972 Widgery inquiry which exonerated the soldiers and blamed the march organisers.

Between March 2000 and its final hearing in January 2005, the inquiry heard from 922 witnesses, sitting in Derry and London. These included former soldiers, civilians, former paramilitary members, politicians, civil servants, priests and police officers. The total cost of the inquiry was just over £190 million.

In its report, made public on June 15 2010, Lord Saville concluded: “None of the casualties shot by soldiers of Support Company was armed with a firearm or (with the probably exception of Gerald Donaghey) a bomb of any description. None was posing any threat of causing death or serious injury. In no case was any warning given before soldiers opened fire.” (The Bloody Sunday families have consistently denied claims that Gerald Donaghey (17) was armed with a nail bomb).

It was also revealed yesterday that the British Ministry of Defence will cover the legal costs of any former soldiers should it be confirmed that they are to face criminal charges.