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Soldiers who opened fire on peaceful demonstrators on Bloody
Sunday must return to Derry to give evidence at the Saville
inquiry, it was announced today.
The tribunal ruled the city was "the proper place" for military
witnesses to testify about the 1972 massacre and there
was "compelling reason" preventing them coming to Derry.
Thirteen unarmed Catholic men and youths were shot dead by the
British army during a civil rights demonstration almost three
decades ago. One more demonstrator died later.
About 250 military witnesses are to be called into the witness
box at the inquiry, which has been sitting in public in the
Guildhall, Derry, for over a year.
Among them will be the paratroopers who fired the lethal shots on
January 30th, 1972.
Lawyers acting for the soldiers fought to have the hearings
transferred to Britain when the men were called to testify,
probably in spring next year.
The troops' legal representatives argued the men's lives would be
at risk because of the strong emotions Bloody Sunday still evokes
in the city.
But in its ruling, the tribunal said: "In the light of the
information presently available to us, we consider that none of
the arguments put forward by those acting on behalf of the
soldiers is sufficient to provide a compelling reason for not
hearing the oral evidence of the soldiers at the Guildhall, which
we regard as the proper place for this inquiry.
"We accordingly rule that this is where that evidence should be
given".
The inquiry resumes in early September. The soldiers are
expected to begin giving evidence in the Spring.
In Solidarity,
RC
i think its good that the trial will be held in Derry. It forces people to somewhat relive bloody sunday and can bring people together better to stop the violence. however, it might create more problems just because of that very tension, Most of all, however, it will help the citizens of Derry feel that justice is being done, whatever justice is.
I AM THE PERFECT ME!
Economic Left/Right: -7.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -8.15
It would seem as Justice In delt... if you didn't know how the brutal act caused such an upsurgance in Ira thought and action... In fact much of what people know of today are the bombiings that where a backlash from that day.
But you are right.... people need to see an end to this and Derry ( LondonDerry for the English) is the best place.
Why did it take Decades for this to happen? Isn't it obvious to us in North America? How can England tial Soldgers for something they did in a colony? ( I know you didn''t say or think that... just added it ) :smile:
Anyway... At this point...I think wherever the trial takes place .... even in NY or Buenos Aries.... as long as it ends...
In Solidarity,
RC
Aren't they still concluding or alluding that Martin McGuiness fired the first shot on Bloody Sunday when he was officer commanding of the Derry Brigade?
"Out of Ireland we have come,
great hatred, little room
Maimed us at the start" - WB Yeats
In memory: Kevin Lynch, Irish National Liberation Army & Kieran Doherty, Irish Republican Army, August 1 & 2, 1981, Hungerstrike
