Saville should ‘seek prosecutions’
A Bloody Sunday relative has said those responsible for shooting 14 people dead in Derry should face prosecutions if the Saville Inquiry report finds that the victims were killed unlawfully.
The long-awaited report into how 14 people were killed by British troops in Londonderry in 1972 will be published on 15 June.
It took 12 years to compile and cost £200m, making it the most expensive inquiry in UK legal history.
The family of Jim Wray, who was shot dead in Glenfada Park on Bloody Sunday, told UTV they didn’t want the soldiers jailed.
But brother Liam said he hoped prosecutions will follow the publication of the report.
“I know our family don’t need anyone to be jailed for what happened to Jim”, Liam Wray said.
“It’s too late now and it wouldn’t serve any greater purpose.
“But we would still hope the Inquiry would seek prosecutions for our family, for someone to be prosecuted and convicted of Jim’s murder and identified.”
Headed by Lord Saville, the Inquiry re-examined the events of January 1972, when soldiers from the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area of Derry.
It was established after the original Widgery Inquiry in the wake of the killings was dismissed by the victims’ families as a whitewash.
Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson announced the publication date in a written statement to the House of Commons last week.
He also confirmed that families of those who were killed by the Army and the soldiers themselves would see the report in advance of full publication.
The Government also said a day will be set aside in the autumn to allow Parliament to debate the report.
The report was expected three months ago. But the General Election and a change of government forced another delay.
