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A funeral of one of the victims. AP/Press Association Images

Families of Bloody Sunday victims launch legal challenge over 'end of murder investigation'

Cuts in PSNI funding have lead to a delay in the inquiry into the massacre.

THE FAMILIES OF those murdered on Bloody Sunday have challenged a decision to delay an inquiry into the incident.

Madden & Finucane Solicitors today lodged judicial review proceedings “challenging the decision by the Chief Constable to effectively end this multiple murder investigation”.

The solicitors represent the majority of those killed and injured on Bloody Sunday.

In a statement released today, Madden & Finucane said that noted that less than six months ago the PSNI talked of its “statutory duty to investigate fully all matters of serious crime, including murder”, in its pursuit of the Boston College Tapes.

The solicitors said that it now appeared that “this statutory duty does not extend to murders committed by the British Army”.

We are taking these proceedings on behalf of twenty of our clients who are the next of kin of those murdered, the wounded and the families of the wounded who have since died.

Last month it emerged that the inquiry would be delayed due to budget cuts at the PSNI.

On 30 January 1972, 13 Catholic civil rights marchers were shot dead by British soldiers in Derry. Another man died from his injuries four months later. Several more were injured.

In 2010, following a 12-year inquiry, Lord Saville published his report into the shooting. He called the killings “unjustified and unjustifiable”. In July 2012, the PSNI said it would launch its own investigation into the deaths.

Families angered over cuts to Bloody Sunday inquiry

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