Progress seen in Bloody Sunday justice campaign
Progress seen in Bloody Sunday justice campaign
The Bloody Sunday families have welcomed news that former British soldiers may finally be questioned by the PSNI as part of a murder investigation into the killings.
Relatives of the 14 people who died after British paratroopers opened fire on nationalist demonstrators in the city in 1972 were told of the development this week.
Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie confirmed that a detective had
finally been appointed to head a murder investigation into the Bloody
Sunday killings.
A weekend of commemorative and protest events is due to take place next
month to mark the 41st anniversary of the massacre and to demand 'an
end to impunity'.
A number of Bloody Sunday families had launched a campaign for justice
following the release of the report of the Saville Inquiry in June
2010. That report forced a public apology from British Prime Minister
David Cameron and an admission that those massacred had been innocent.
Efforts to bring to justice those responsible for ordering the killings
are now finally underway.
A wide range of witnesses are to be questioned,
including the soldiers
who carried out the shootings
A key focus of the investigation is likely to be the small number of
soldiers directly involved in the gun attacks in Derry's Glenfada Park
area. One soldier in particular, known as soldier F, is believed to
have killed Bernard McGuigan, Patrick Doherty, Michael Kelly and
possibly Michael McKinney.
The families were told that the investigation could be expanded if
necessary.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was one of those killed, said the
families were pleased with the outcome of the meeting.
Bloody Sunday relative Joe McKinney, brother of murdered William, says
he now has more faith in the process.
“To be honest, I was starting to feel dejected after the events of 15
June 2010, to put it mildly. But police seem very positive and say they
have to follow where their enquiries and the evidence lead. They say
they have been relying heavily on the information contained within the
Saville Report and they will now follow those key areas where Lord
Saville pointed out there was murder committed. After today, I have
more faith in the process.”
Sinn Féin assembly member Raymond McCartney welcomed the PSNI
announcement that an investigation into the murders on Bloody Sunday
has now begun.
He said the families had been given a timeline on how the PSNI expect
that investigation to progress, which would help the families monitor
how the investigation is progresing.
“Sinn Féin has supported the call by the families for a proper
investigation to be carried out into the events of Bloody Sunday," he
said. ”The announcement today that a full time team of PSNI officers
have begun an investigation has to be welcomed as a step forward."
Relatives of the 14 people who died after British paratroopers opened fire on nationalist demonstrators in the city in 1972 were told of the development this week.
Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie confirmed that a detective had
finally been appointed to head a murder investigation into the Bloody
Sunday killings.
A weekend of commemorative and protest events is due to take place next
month to mark the 41st anniversary of the massacre and to demand 'an
end to impunity'.
A number of Bloody Sunday families had launched a campaign for justice
following the release of the report of the Saville Inquiry in June
2010. That report forced a public apology from British Prime Minister
David Cameron and an admission that those massacred had been innocent.
Efforts to bring to justice those responsible for ordering the killings
are now finally underway.
A wide range of witnesses are to be questioned,
including the soldiers
who carried out the shootings
A key focus of the investigation is likely to be the small number of
soldiers directly involved in the gun attacks in Derry's Glenfada Park
area. One soldier in particular, known as soldier F, is believed to
have killed Bernard McGuigan, Patrick Doherty, Michael Kelly and
possibly Michael McKinney.
The families were told that the investigation could be expanded if
necessary.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was one of those killed, said the
families were pleased with the outcome of the meeting.
Bloody Sunday relative Joe McKinney, brother of murdered William, says
he now has more faith in the process.
“To be honest, I was starting to feel dejected after the events of 15
June 2010, to put it mildly. But police seem very positive and say they
have to follow where their enquiries and the evidence lead. They say
they have been relying heavily on the information contained within the
Saville Report and they will now follow those key areas where Lord
Saville pointed out there was murder committed. After today, I have
more faith in the process.”
Sinn Féin assembly member Raymond McCartney welcomed the PSNI
announcement that an investigation into the murders on Bloody Sunday
has now begun.
He said the families had been given a timeline on how the PSNI expect
that investigation to progress, which would help the families monitor
how the investigation is progresing.
“Sinn Féin has supported the call by the families for a proper
investigation to be carried out into the events of Bloody Sunday," he
said. ”The announcement today that a full time team of PSNI officers
have begun an investigation has to be welcomed as a step forward."
