8 April 1999 Edition
Bloody Sunday inquiry's independence questioned
Greg McCartney, solicitor for the family of Bloody Sunday victim James Wray, has said that judicial interference by English courts in the new inquiry raises ``the whole question of Lord Saville's credibility and independence''.
This statement comes after an appeal court in London rejected an appeal by the Saville Bloody Sunday Inquiry following a judicial review taken by five soldiers in order to preserve their anonymity at the inquiry.
The Inquiry team was appealing against an earlier court decision instructing it to re-examine its decision not to grant the soldiers involved in the massacre complete anonymity when giving evidence. Solicitor Greg McCartney said: ``We were always concerned that something like this would happen from the minute we heard about the soldiers taking a judicial review in England. The full implications of this judgment have yet to emerge but we would be extremely concerned at the way things are moving''.
He continued: ``We have already made clear our concerns as regards judicial interference by the English courts in the Saville Inquiry and this judgment would seem to bear these concerns out''. He went on to question the independence and credibility of the inquiry and added: ``If the English courts are going to interfere in the inquiry then the international dimension to it is rendered worthless''.
Fears of a Widgery Mark II are growing with the news that three of the soldiers involved in the killings are now dead. Two of the deceased Paras, who during the Widgery Tribunal were known as soldiers E and G, were involved in the shooting at Glenfada Park, an area where four people were shot dead. The third soldier, known as soldier T, gave evidence to the original inquiry saying he fired two shots at Rossville Flats.
There is now a fear that these soldiers may be blamed for the Glenfada shootings in order to clear others who are still alive and possibly still active in the British army.
Lawyers representing the families of the dead have expressed their desire to explore the decisions taken at the highest level, hoping to see the minutes of meetings attended by senior crown forces personnel in the lead up to Bloody Sunday. This will extend the inquiry over a larger area than the original Widgery Tribunal and hopefully establish who planned and ordered the massacre.
This statement comes after an appeal court in London rejected an appeal by the Saville Bloody Sunday Inquiry following a judicial review taken by five soldiers in order to preserve their anonymity at the inquiry.
The Inquiry team was appealing against an earlier court decision instructing it to re-examine its decision not to grant the soldiers involved in the massacre complete anonymity when giving evidence. Solicitor Greg McCartney said: ``We were always concerned that something like this would happen from the minute we heard about the soldiers taking a judicial review in England. The full implications of this judgment have yet to emerge but we would be extremely concerned at the way things are moving''.
He continued: ``We have already made clear our concerns as regards judicial interference by the English courts in the Saville Inquiry and this judgment would seem to bear these concerns out''. He went on to question the independence and credibility of the inquiry and added: ``If the English courts are going to interfere in the inquiry then the international dimension to it is rendered worthless''.
Fears of a Widgery Mark II are growing with the news that three of the soldiers involved in the killings are now dead. Two of the deceased Paras, who during the Widgery Tribunal were known as soldiers E and G, were involved in the shooting at Glenfada Park, an area where four people were shot dead. The third soldier, known as soldier T, gave evidence to the original inquiry saying he fired two shots at Rossville Flats.
There is now a fear that these soldiers may be blamed for the Glenfada shootings in order to clear others who are still alive and possibly still active in the British army.
Lawyers representing the families of the dead have expressed their desire to explore the decisions taken at the highest level, hoping to see the minutes of meetings attended by senior crown forces personnel in the lead up to Bloody Sunday. This will extend the inquiry over a larger area than the original Widgery Tribunal and hopefully establish who planned and ordered the massacre.