Bloody Sunday victim shot at close range
New evidence given to the Saville Bloody Sunday Inquiry may prove
that one of the victims of the 1972 massacre, James Wray, was shot in
the back at close range.
Preliminary forensic tests performed on the clothing worn by Wray
when he was killed seem to indicate that he was shot while he lay on
the ground. If this is proven to be the case and Wray was prone while
shot from behind, then it could be the first finding by an official
British government inquiry that a Bloody Sunday victim was killed
unlawfully. This in turn could lead to other families handing over
evidence which could be examined using the new forensic techniques.
These techniques enable scientists to determine more accurately the
position a person was in when they were shot. The tests are being
undertaken by a team of scientists from Switzerland, Canada, America
and Britain. Their task is to re-examine all available forensic
evidence, including clothing worn by the victims and photographs of
the bodies.
Commenting on the findings, James Wray's brother, Liam, said: ``Our
family has always known what happened but it will confirm to the
wider world, which has been fed lies and propaganda by the British
government for 27 years, that Jim was an innocent man murdered while
lying defenceless.''
Eyewitness Seosamh Mahon, who was lying on the ground wounded when he
saw Wray killed, explained in a 1972 interview how he saw a British
Para fire into Wray's back. He is himself preparing a submission to
the Saville inquiry, and said: ``I know what happened, so I won't be
surprised if these tests confirm that Jim Wray was lying down. I will
be pleased for his family if this inquiry is finally able to say
officially that he was murdered.''
The family solicitor, Greg McCartney, speaking about the new
evidence, said: ``Such a finding would be highly significant in legal
terms. If it is established that he was shot in the back while on the
ground, it has to be viewed as a clear case of murder, and we will
expect the Director of Public Prosecutions to press charges.''
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