No more Bloody Sunday lies, marchers demand

The report of the second Bloody Sunday Inquiry must be given to the families of the victims at the same time it is received by the British government, the large crowd at this year’s commemoration march was told.

Joe McKinney, whose brother, Willie, was one of those murdered in the 1974 massacre, told the crowd of more than 8,000 people at Free Derry Corner the report must be delivered to everyone at the same time.

His demand was echoed by the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness who said that anything less than the truth about Bloody Sunday would not be accepted by the people of Derry.

Mr McKinney called on the Saville Inquiry not to allow the British government time to spin the findings of his inquiry before the families have seen it.

“If the British Government have this report, we do not believe that the Ministry of Defence, which represent the soldiers and officers involved in murder here on Bloody Sunday, will not have it also.

“Why should they get to see this report before us, and get time to prepare their spin and lies for their tame journalists, while we may only have a few hours to see the report before we have to respond?,” he asked.

The families also revealed they have written to British Secretary Shaun Woodward asking for a meeting to discuss how the Saville Report will be delivered.

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness paid tribute to the local people who gave evidence to the Saville Inquiry. “This is a big year for the families. In the course of the Inquiry the people of Derry were put to the test.

“Thousands of people went through what was a daily interrogation and did so with truth and honesty. Now the British Government are being tested. If they are serious about truth and justice the report must be given to the families at the exact same time that the British government gets it,” he said.

It has been suggested that this year’s march could be the last if Saville delivers a verdict which is acceptable to the families.

Martin McGuinness said whatever decision the families arrive at regarding the future of the march will be supported by the people of Derry.

“Where we go from here will be a matter for the families. They will have to decide about whether to bring huge numbers onto the streets next year.

“One thing is sure; any failure by the British government to clear the names of those who were murdered will be challenged by the people of this city,” he added.

* A car was burned and two petrol bombs thrown at the end of the annual Bloody Sunday commemoration march in Derry, despite an appeal from organisers for calm.

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