Republican News · Thursday 16 May 2002

Bloody Sunday families walk out

Sinn Féin Assembly member Mitchel McLaughlin has lent his support to the Bloody Sunday families and wounded after they walked out of the Guildhall on Wednesday in protest at the screening of RUC witnesses at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

"It is a disgrace that RUC officers who have given evidence in open court over the past 30 years are skulking into and out of the Guildhall beneath blankets and behind screens," said McLaughlin.

"Now, in an Inquiry that the British Prime Minister promised would be open, transparent and public, we have the disgraceful picture of RUC officers giving evidence from behind screens.

"These screens have nothing to do with fictious and non-existent threats and everything to do with smearing the relatives and wounded. The relatives have repeatedly said that no one should be under threat attending the Inquiry.

"Indeed, the only threat that currently exists is the threat to the Inquiry posed by the concerted attempts by the British military establishment to undermine it.