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Murder enquiry to be launched into Bloody Sunday deaths in Derry

British Paratrooper actions to be investigated by Northern Irish police

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, December 21, 2012, 7:26 AM

Updated Friday, December 21, 2012, 10:00 AM

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Photograph taken on Bloody Sunday, 1972

Photo by Google Images

Police in Ulster are to launch a murder enquiry into the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry 40 years ago.

The British government has confirmed the investigation into the 14 deaths when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights demonstration.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will conduct the murder enquiry according to Irish state broadcaster RTE.

Senior officers have already briefed relatives of those who died.

Their murder enquiry follows an in-depth review of the Saville public inquiry into the controversial shootings.

The Saville report found that the killings were unjustified and none of the dead posed a threat when they were shot.

The findings contradicted the long-standing official version of events as outlined in the contentious 1972 Widgery report which had exonerated soldiers of any blame.

British Prime Minister David Cameron apologised to the relatives in the wake of the Saville report.

PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie and Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris outlined details of the murder investigation at a press conference in Derry.

The confirmed that the investigation will be ‘lengthy and complex’ and is expected to last at least four years.

The PSNI also stated that statements given by witnesses to the Saville Inquiry cannot be used as evidence in criminal proceedings.

They have appealed those people who made statements to Saville to come forward again to make official statements.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Senior police met a delegation in Derry representing some of the victims killed on Bloody Sunday.

“Following consultation earlier this year with the Public Prosecution Service, officers provided an outline of the processes involved and the challenges posed by a criminal investigation into the events of 30 January 1972.

“The delegation was informed about the appointment from Serious Crime Branch of a senior investigating officer and the allocation of resources to create an investigation team which will begin work in the New Year.

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seamus60 | Dec 23, 2012, 11:08 PM EST

Whats up folks, some one cut all your tongues out. Martin Corey only yesterday, yet another kick up his Irish Republican Ass from the british admin for something he done as a true son of Ireland. Even though he remains incarcerated via UNDISCLOSED intelligence that SF took people in their mass`s to the streets to protest against. We all know why they are doing it, A brit paid salary with all the thrills, but what can be said for the so called Irish republicans who in the absence of questions to their leadership on various issues, most that it is up to Republicans to demand of their own leadership during the dirtyist days of the WAR. What actually went on. Until all the people demand answers and the rationale behind them we merely continue to plod along accepting the wizardry of RULING BY FOOLING.

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seamus60 | Dec 23, 2012, 10:35 AM EST

Merely the latest extension to the 40 year old exercise at holding back the real truth. The true value of the brits committment can be measured in the manpower allocated to this vital task, half of that assigned to the task of finding out whether the word PLEB was used against police officers or not. And to think a certain political party who has gained most from that tragic day have all but washed their hands of it. Only for some families breaking ranks and demanding more than the apoligy Mc Guinness said would have been suffice in the first place. The same apoligy that is now common place from the mouth of the brit pm whilst his SOS in the North states there will be no more public inquiries at the expense of the British tax payer. I look forward to as good a turn out this year as last for the families and victims who have seen through the objective of that same political party.

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seanomelb | Dec 22, 2012, 04:56 PM EST

Still no solutions or answers alois Your rhetoric is no answer,therefore you have nothing to add to the debate.

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sedwinmars | Dec 22, 2012, 04:39 PM EST

If I remember correctly, the Queen handed out medals to the shooters didn't she? I imagine this could "complicate" any investigations into this matter. Then again maybe I'm being being a little to pessimistic. Perhaps the investigation should be put off for a few more years until there's a "C" (word) change. HaHa!

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aloistmartin | Dec 22, 2012, 02:06 PM EST

seanomelb@ All Revolutions start out like the Irish Republican Army; And all return to the Dog Vomit of the Bourgeois, once the Wet and Cold of the Trenches, has had its way, with the Warmth and Coziness of The Tea Room !

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Bocktherobber | Dec 22, 2012, 12:43 PM EST

I imagine he meant police in Northern Ireland. An unfortunate lapse.

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navan004 | Dec 22, 2012, 10:08 AM EST

As much as it pains me to say it, the phrase "Police in Ulster" is quite wrong. Ulster is comprised of nine counties. I'm sure the folks in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan would not be too happy to be under the jurisdiction of the PSNI. Northern Ireland is the PSNI jurisdiction. I long for the time when I can call up my local Garda station in Armagh and ask for help.

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seanomelb | Dec 21, 2012, 10:16 PM EST

Tell me aloismartin who should we look up to to!! You seem to have a label for everyone but no solutions or names going forward.

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aloistmartin | Dec 21, 2012, 06:58 PM EST

seanomelb@ That among those Pro-British Pawns, wee would tend to incur the typical, Placator Irish Nationalist, and the ever present Pacifist Mitigationist, Labor Party, Bourgeois Proletarian ? ( The Free State, Fine Gael Coalitian, Government ? ) Can a Revisionist Purge of Irelands Left Wing Revolutionary Idealism, be only another EU mortgage away ?

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seanomelb | Dec 21, 2012, 05:57 PM EST

What a disappointment the usual pro British pawns are not defending the Murders by the terrorist British soldiers. I wonder if they'll hand back their bloodsoaked medals.

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