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POLICE IN NORTHERN Ireland are to hold a murder investigation into Bloody Sunday, forty years after 13 people were shot dead in Derry in 1972.
The investigation has been sanctioned following a review of the landmark Saville Inquiry, published in 2010, which found that the people who had been killed by soldiers had been attending a civil rights march and had not been armed.
The PSNI has said the inquiry could last up to four years and will involve up to 30 officers. No date has yet been given for when the inquiry will begin.
“Police can confirm that following a review of the Saville Report by the PPS [Public Prosecution Service] an investigation will be launched into Bloody Sunday,” a statement from the PSNI said today.
“PSNI have scoped out the scale of this investigation and the resources required to support it”.
Thirteen people were shot dead by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday and a fourteenth person died several months later.
The Saville Inquiry into what happened took 12 years to report, finally publishing its report in 2010 after the longest-running and most expensive public inquiry in British history.
- Additional report by AFP
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About time
All very good, but the question is, will the British government hand over the soldiers involved?
Handing over soldiers to who? The investigation is being conducted by a UK police force!
Lets hope the families finally get some justice. These murderers cannot hide behind their uniforms and they should suffer the consequences of killing 13 innocent people.
14 innocent people.
Sorry I forgot about the man who later died as a result of the shooting.
14 innocent people murdered by cowardly murderers.
It was quite clearly murder. Nobody will be held accountable. Does the PSNI possess the power to issue a warrant for the arrest of current or former members of the British forces? (Most of which probably don’t even live in the north).
The Saville inquiry exonerated the injured and killed of any wrong-doing. Let’s see them held accountable. The British Government was quick to throw people in prison without trial or without a crime have been committed during internment, but they couldn’t put their own soldiers in prison for the slaughter of civilians?
And Bloody Sunday wasn’t the only incident that saw British troops slay civilians. Ballymurphy and Springhill were just as bad – which included the murder of 13, 15 and 16 year old children by British forces. These people have yet to even receive an inquiry.
I wonder if the current clowns in the Dail will follow suit and start a murder enquirey into the the Dublin & Monaghan bombings which was the worst attrocity that took place during the troubles. I would reccoment the book “The Committee: Political Assassination in Northern Ireland” by Sean Mcphilemy. Its a great book that deals with collusion between Lizies forces the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries.
What about the two fcuks who gave the orders -
The British Government should face charges “crimes against humanity” is what they call it. well when Libya or Syria is involved. Chances of that happening is slim to nil when the British are wrong.
Who do you charge? Goverment ministers from 40 years ago have probably passed away by now.
Who do you charge – are you serious? You start with those that gave the order to open fire on a peaceful human rights protest attended by women and children!
And were they members of the government? Can you read?
I can do many things including reading. I am also, unlike you, capable of compassion and empathy. To answer your question – those in charge of the First Battalion of the Parachute Regiment who ordered soldiers, to open fire and shoot to kill. They are the people who should be brought before the courts and charged with mass murder.
I agree but this particular sub thread was about charging the government. Did you not read that bit?
I do apologise, I’m just so vexed at the red thumbs. I cant believe that some people have a problem with this news.
About time. And whilst looking through twitter and facebook I’ve already seen people complain about this. So many ill-informed, ignorant and sectarian idiots about.
Its 2012!!!
So someone who commits a crime should only have a specific window of time where they can be held accountable for their actions Brenner, is that your logic? The time-frame is solely the fault of the British authorities for not holding their troops accountable for their actions in the first place. Don’t be upset because families still seek justice.
Tell me Brenner should those who were abused by priests 40 years ago not seek justice for their suffering? Or do you just object to justice for the Catholics in the six counties?
I wonder why Brenner didn’t answer your post Ann :D Well debated…. Respect :)
I personally think at this stage that a Truth and reconciliation forum would work out a lot better for all the sides in the conflict, rather than going after a couple of murdering gits who were only taking their orders from a hierarchy that has since disappeared. I had a friend murdered by the Paras. Shot in the back while walking through one of the check points. Official records record it as being an accident, an accidental discharge of a weapon, that managed to shoot my friend in the back of the head. No charges brought. My friend was told by the same group of soldiers the day before they were going to do it. I am ashamed to this day that when he told me they were threatening him, i told him not to be silly, they were only winding him up.
But there are many many stories that affect all sides involved, The Dublin/Monaghan Bombings (our successive FF/FFG/Labour Governments were guilty and colluded in the cover up).
There are many stories on the other side, like the Kingsmill massacre. Protestants murdered by the IRA, even though to this day, the IRA deny any involvement.
There are just too many wounds that need to be confronted. Victims families want to be able to look the perpetrators in the eye and have their apologies. It was a war. Anyone is disputes it, is a liar.
There were multiple terrible acts carried out. Without a peace and reconcilliation forum, we will end up with a divided society for generations (think about the civil war politics we have had in the south, its only coming to an end now, because FF and FFg have joined forces to keep SF and the socialists out, money before principles).
I really hope that we get the truth forums, and that everyone partakes in it. Let us finally confront it, and then put all the sh*t behind us.
I completely agree and I cant understand the delay in setting up the process. And I also have to say Cal that I very much admire how magnanimous you are having grown up in the north during the troubles, especially given the murder of your friend and your ability to look beyond that. I dont think I could be that generous or forgiving.
Some people have no compassion or sense of injustice, bet if it was an innocent member of their family that was gunned down by British forces they’d be shouting for justice for their loved one. Its absolutely sickening. Do you (the red thumbers) agree with WW2 nazis being brought before the courts for something that happened 60 years ago, or those involved in the ethnic cleansing of innocent civilians in the Baltic states 20 years ago?
Oh god, what a complete waste if time and money. 30 detectives working for 4 years on that event instead if targeting gangsters, drug dealers and thugs.
I’m sure the families of those murdered will be delighted with your compassion.
A waste of time you say? I don’t think the families of the dead and wounded would see it that way do you? There is no statute if limitations where murder is concerned
And I am sure the families of dying drug addicts and victims of organised crime will be delighted to hear of the drain on police resources, the dealers and killers in modern NI certainly will be smiling.
Is that the Official English Defence League line or just your own point of view?
EDL is an anti-islam organisation, led by two men who are the children of Irish immigrants. I suggest you at least refer to google before you post such ignorant statements. Duh!
“I suggest you at least refer to google before you post such ignorant statements. Duh!”
What statement? I asked a question, I didn’t make a statement. It is ironic that you associate with the English Defence League while at the same time struggle with the basic syntax and sentence formation within the English Language.
So is justice always a waste of time to you Brenner, or only when it’s northern nationalists who have been the victim of the crime? Law and justice is only about prevention, it’s about making those who commit crimes accountable for their actions. Wise up.
Brian: I think you have confused yourself. You brought in the EDL, they in fact don’t comment on Irish issues, I pointed that out to you. Your retort is to then accuse me of not understanding English? I have published 2 papers on the EDL, I can give you references if you wish. Maybe if you read them you can speak from a position not characterised by obvious stupidity and arrogance (always an entertaining mix by the way).
…and, considering the fact that you don’t know me and therefore could have no information to suggest that I do or do not associate with the EDL, your question was rhetorical and therefore a statement. Silly billy.
Er, perhaps he got the idea from the fact that you have “English Defence League” listed under your activities and interests on your facebook page.
Brenner as I pointed out to you I asked a question, pure and simple and not a statement as you asserted. A simple answer would have sufficed as opposed to calling me ignorant, confused, stupid and arrogant. You did not point out that the EDL don’t comment on Irish issues and as Sean pointed out linking your Facebook page to the EDL and someone called “Mr Muslamic Ray-Guns” would lead me to believe that you might have had some insight to the way the EDL think.
i would be grateful if you could provide references to those papers that you mentioned and I’ll give them a read over when I get a chance.
Murphy.. Your forgot to mention murderers.
This will also gain the psni in the north a bit more support I would imagine
I find it hard to see anyone actually going to prison over this after all these years. I think the British public will be upset if some of their soldiers or former soldiers are sent to prison especial because they will be 60 years old or more but we shall see.
Their age has nothing to do with, they didnt give a flying fluk when they opened fire on innocent women and very young children. These people deserve justice so again I ask, if a nazi who had been on the run for 50 years and was eventually captured, should he be let off just because he’s 70 or 80?
I totally agree with you Ann they should be punished for it, all I was thinking about was the British reaction, not that it matters. When they said what happened during the so called famine was wrong people I was working with from England said it was stupid and were very angry.
I was living in Falmouth England when the Guilford 4 were released and everyone in my local were disgusted when they were released, some people were saying maybe they didn’t plant that bomb but they definitely did something so it will be interesting to see the British reaction if anyone is jailed.
Who gives a fluck if the british public will be upset to see these ex soldiers go to prison. They are murders they deserve to rot in prison, just like any other killer.
The British need a reality check and need to realise they are not the good guys of the west that they always make themselves out to be. They need to face up to the facts that they have been involved in atrocities around the world.
That brings to mind the English woman who was interviewed while marching during the Birmingham Six “trial” who stated that the six shouldnt have been given a trial and they should have been sent straight to the gallows.
unfortunately probably long dead Elrat
Don’t think so – one guy living in Holland I think – a Major.
Strikes me cal mooney your the only one on this talking sense. Alot of terrible killings on both sides but we got to move on. There were so many innocent people murdered and yes all those involved on both political sides need to be brought to justice but let’s not get carried away in this arena.
Guilty, guilty, guilty.
So how about the Deputy First Minister gives information to police about all the crimes, murders and bombings he has information on that were conducted while he was an IRA commander?.
So… 25 people think that only certain crimes be investigated and those by the IRA should not ?
Christine, 14 people died, not 13.
y is there so many red thumbs to the fact that this is being done now.. the soldiers that done this are probli dead r in their 60s r 70s….
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