What the Saville report said about the involvement of the main players on the day
BRITISH ARMY
Firing by British soldiers caused the deaths of 13 people, none of whom posed a threat.
This also applied to the 14th victim, who died later.
“Despite the contrary evidence given by soldiers, we have concluded that none of them fired in response to attacks or threatened attacks.”
The accounts of soldiers to the inquiry were rejected, with a number said to have “knowingly put forward false accounts”.
Five soldiers fired in the belief that no one in the area they were firing at posed a threat.
Two soldiers fired in the belief that they might have identified gunmen, but without being certain.
Soldiers of support company went into Bogside due to an order by Col Wilford, which should not have been given and was contrary to orders he received from Brig MacLellan.
MARCHERS
No blame was placed on the march’s organisers, the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association.
PROVISIONAL/OFFICIAL IRA
Members of Official IRA fired shots, although paratroopers shot first on Bloody Sunday.
There was no evidence that any Provisional IRA member used or intended to use the march to engage the security forces.
It was likely that Martin McGuinness was armed with a Thompson sub-machine gun “and we cannot eliminate the possibility that he fired this weapon”.
Report concludes: “He did not engage in any activity that provided any of the soldiers with any justification for opening fire.”
GOVERNMENTS
Neither the British nor Northern Ireland governments planned or foresaw the use of unnecessary lethal force by soldiers.
VICTIMS
Saville said none of the victims were armed with the probable exception of Gerald Donaghey.
A police photograph showed nail bombs on Mr Donaghey’s body. His family said they were planted. Saville disagrees.
“We are sure that Gerald Donaghey was not preparing or attempting to throw a nail bomb when he was shot, and we are equally sure that he was not shot because of his possession of the nail bombs.”