Inchiesta sul Bloody Sunday? “Inutile”, dice David Ford
Bloody Sunday inquiry pointless, says Northern Ireland politician
David Ford’s claims that Saville inquiry is only enriching lawyers raises questions about suitability for new justice role
The Northern Ireland political leader likely to be the new justice minister has claimed the Bloody Sunday tribunal is only enriching lawyers.
David Ford today defended previous remarks to the Liberal Democrats that the Saville inquiry was “pointless”.
The Alliance party leader said he did not think justice was served by spending the bulk of £200m on lawyers’ fees.
Ford however said he would meet the families of the 14 victims of the Parachute Regiment, who have denounced his remarks as insensitive.
The furore has raised fresh questions about Ford’s suitability as a compromise candidate as the new minister of justice in Northern Ireland.
The Sinn Féin assembly member for Foyle, Ronnie McCartney, said the remarks, made last November in private emails to the Liberal Democrats, would be greeted “with disdain by the vast majority of citizens of Derry”.
“Mr Ford should do the honourable thing and request a meeting at the earliest convenience with the families to explain his reasoning for making these gratuitous and offensive remarks.”
The inquiry was set up in 1998 to re-examine the events of 30 January 1972, when British soldiers shot dead 14 people in Derry’s Bogside. Unionists have criticised the mounting costs of the investigation which has taken more than a decade to complete and is due to be published this year.
Tony Doherty, whose father, Patrick, was killed on Bloody Sunday said Ford “should be ashamed of himself” and called on him to withdraw his “grossly insensitive” remark.