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British Government announce new Bloody Sunday Inquiry

The British prime minister, Tony Blair, has today (29 January) announced a new inquiry into the events in Derry known as Bloody Sunday when British paratroopers murdered 14 unarmed people on 30 January 1972.

The new inquiry, which is unprecedented in British legal history, will be led by English law lord Lord Saville but he will sit with two other judges drawn from the countries of the British Commonwealth. There is speculation that one of the judges might come from South Africa.

The spokesperson for the relative of those killed, John Kelly, has welcomed the statement at a press conference held in Derry’s Guildhall this evening.

While reserving a final judgement until such times as the identities of the other two judges is known, John Kelly said that relatives “broadly welcome the announcement” and would support the inquiry.