Ex-paras at Bloody Sunday debate
The Bloody Sunday familes sat just yards away from a former paratrooper who commanded the troops who killed their loved ones during a debate on the Saville report at Westminster on Wednesday.
Two former paratroopers who were in Derry on Bloody Sunday were in the public gallery at Westminster during the debate on Lord Saville’s report this week, according to the relatives.
John Kelly, whose brother, Michael, was among those shot dead on January 30th 1972, said the former paratrooper known to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry as ‘Soldier O’ and Major Edward Loden watched the debate from the public gallery – just yards from the Bloody Sunday families.
He said he was shocked to see the former paratroopers.
“We were in the public gallery for the debate and noticed two former paras, Soldier O and Major Ted Loden. Major Loden was taking notes and even nodded at me at the end,” he said.
Mr Kelly said the debate was “very positive” and added that he was surprised at the language used by some MPs.
“I thought the debate on the whole was very positive. Even Tory MPs, some of whom had military backgrounds, said they accepted Saville’s version of events. They all accepted the government’s apology and admission of responsibility and some even said they supported the call for prosecutions. One called the actions of the paras a total disgrace. I was surprised to hear such language being used by Tories,” he said.
‘Withdraw OBE’
During the debate, Foyle MP Mark Durkan said the British state organised a campaign of “lies erected on stilts” in the aftermath of the massacre.
He also called for the OBE given to paras commander Col. Derek Wilford – who was strongly criticised in the Saville report – to be withdrawn.
“One year after the murders, Colonel Wilford of 1st Para was awarded the OBE. That was the reward for murder, injustice and lies. I understand that there is an Honours Forfeiture Committee; is it considering the honour that was given to him? It came as a huge insult to people not just in Derry but throughout Ireland because they saw it as his reward for what had happened on Bloody Sunday – for the injustice and murder of that day and for the lies that were concocted and propagated thereafter. What is being done in that regard?” he said.
