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Secret British government memo shows soldiers had legal immunity

Memo from six months after Bloody Sunday reveals full legal protection

KERRY O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, June 25, 2012, 8:11 AM

Updated Monday, June 25, 2012, 8:11 AM

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Willie Whitelaw, former Northern Ireland secretary

Photo by Rex

"The consequences of the document should permeate a lot of their investigations. It potentially strengthens grounds for fresh inquests. It could generate a huge amount of legal proceedings. If that was the mindset ... it would be grounds for a series of [out of time] civil actions for unlawful killings."

Paul O'Connor, of the Pat Finucane Centre in Derry, which also examines files from the period, said: "This document tells us something about the culture [at the time].”

“We deal with cases of people who were being kidnapped at UDA checkpoints and who were tortured and murdered. That ties in with allowing UDA members to join the Ulster Defence Regiment. It was the worst months of the Troubles."

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seanomelb | Jul 03, 2012, 07:00 PM EDT

Did I attack you Stiofan?? please show me where.

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Stiofain | Jul 03, 2012, 04:51 PM EDT

seanomelb: Personal attacks again. No argument w/ facts.

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seanomelb | Jul 02, 2012, 08:30 PM EDT

The phrase is rather universal if you were quoting the proclamation (which you abhor)you should say so.Not that you'd have any sympathy for the signatories of that historical document.The proclamation is for the true believers not to be abused by Brits like you.

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DanOLoingsigh | Jul 02, 2012, 04:27 AM EDT

Those are not my words, I was quoting part of the Proclamation...but as usual, you missed that...

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seanomelb | Jun 30, 2012, 07:40 PM EDT

You're sounding more like a "bleeding heart" each day.Your postings make marshmallow look tough.

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DanOLoingsigh | Jun 30, 2012, 04:58 AM EDT

The real oxymoron is equating 'cherishing all the children' with the actions of your heroes...or maybe you can explain that?

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DanOLoingsigh | Jun 30, 2012, 04:55 AM EDT

Warrenpointless=Idiot...

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seanomelb | Jun 29, 2012, 07:53 PM EDT

He just doesn't listen sirpeter.To thick by far methinks.I wonder why he uses the Gaelic O'Loingsigh it's almost an oxymoron.

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warrenpoint00 | Jun 29, 2012, 07:37 PM EDT

Slan abhaile old Dan Longshanks you fool time you was headin on back to the mainland instead of hanging around Ireland you fool and mouth peice defender of british terrorists in Ireland.You have nothing to offer Ireland or the Irish old boy you probably are in Ireland for the scenery and of course advocating terror and fear on the Irish nation on behalf of your british friends. Shooh now old boy run along back to your old brit friends tell them all that the Irish are not going to be dictated to by your ilk. Ireland = Irish.All Irish

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DanOLoingsigh | Jun 29, 2012, 04:37 PM EDT

IN ONE SINGLE INCIDENT Warrenpoint’s heroes killed: An 18 months old from Augher, County Tyrone, a 20 month old from Donemana, Co. Tyrone, Two 12 year olds and an 8 year old from Buncrana, Co. Donegal, a 15 year old and three 17 year olds from Omagh, Co. Tyrone, and a 12 year old from Madrid, Spain…so much for his ‘values’and his 'love for Ireland'

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warrenpoint00 | Jun 29, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT

Nothing new here, as a nationalist citizens of Ireland besieged by imperialist british terrorist thugs claiming rights to my nation I am all to aware of this story and many stories of the wanton destruction, rape and murder of our nations children by these same british terrorist invaders.I revel in the knowledge that I and thousands of my country men through out our nation still work tirelessly to uphold our nationalist values that those imperialist british terrorists tried to steal from us.Ireland = Irish.Love it or get outa here.

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sirpeter | Jun 29, 2012, 04:22 AM EDT

We know the truth alright.This nit-picking has got to stop Dano.I'm getting embarrassed for ya now.This was government policy.

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DanOLoingsigh | Jun 29, 2012, 04:20 AM EDT

The misery visited on so many streets, not just the Falls, was the direct responsibility of your ‘heroes’…unlike you, I remember the detail…unlike you, and third or fourth generation embittered armchair republicans, I don’t defend the indefensible… take the recent ‘handshake’, wrong in Dublin, but right in Belfast… better late than never… better than your ‘heroes’ dragging Ireland’s good name through the gutter… now that they’re off the hook mainly of their own making, they and their supporters need to reinvent the history of the last 40 years….wasted years, wasted lives…

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seanomelb | Jun 28, 2012, 07:28 PM EDT

Clutching at straws? Dano equating an accident with murder.Just to set the record I do not know of the incident. If you are correct the man was stupid in handling a "device with children around.Stick to common sense replies (if you can).

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seamus60 | Jun 28, 2012, 05:37 PM EDT

Lets all just hope and prey that the SDLP don`t let the Nationalists of the North down in their demands for truth and justice.

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