The decision to delay the Bloody Sunday inquiry by six months has caused frustration and disappointment but little surprise to the relatives of the 14 people killed in Derry 27 years ago, according to solicitors for the families.
The Bloody Sunday inquiry team, led by Lord Saville, announced yesterday that the main hearings will now begin on March 27th next year rather than on September 27th as planned.
The delay is mainly due to various court hearings and appeals arising from attempts to insure that British soldiers involved in the shootings, who are due to give evidence to the inquiry, can maintain their anonymity.
A Court of Appeal ruling on whether the soldiers should be allowed keep their identities secret is expected in the coming weeks. Representations were also received from other parties, which have further delayed the start of the tribunal, said a tribunal spokesman. "The tribunal believes it is imperative that all of the interested parties have adequate time to consider the evidence gathered by the inquiry." He said that a great deal of progress had been made on evidence gathering. "More than 600 civilians and some 500 soldiers have been interviewed and more interviews are planned. "Reports by experts from a number of disciplines have been commissioned and are due to be delivered to the inquiry later in the summer. A large amount of printed, photographic, film and audio material has also been amassed by the inquiry."
Although the main hearings are put back, a public hearing lasting several days will take place in Derry's Guildhall on Monday September 27th. This will cover time-tabling, the handling of expert evidence, RUC applications for anonymity, and will include a progress report from the tribunal's lawyer Mr Christopher Clarke QC. The tribunal will rule nearer the time on whether military witnesses should give their evidence in Derry.
Ms Patricia Coyle, of Madden and Finucane solicitors, which acts for the majority of the families of those killed on Bloody Sunday and for the wounded, said her clients were "both disappointed and concerned that the soldiers' proceedings in England have impeded the inquiry's work. "They hope that the inquiry's task to establish the truth and facts of what happened on Bloody Sunday will progress without further interruption," she added.
Mr Des Doherty, who represents the family of Barney McGuigan, said that while the announcement would cause frustration, the additional time would not be squandered. He said there was a "massive amount" of information which the solicitors for the wounded and the relatives of the dead had to examine.
"Although this is the second time that the date for the main hearing has been put back, the families believe that since they have waited 27 years for the inquiry this delay will be time well spent.
"One of the main issues still outstanding is that of the reports from experts - ballistic and forensic reports. These are vital and are due to be released at the end of the summer and the lawyers for all of the families will need time to consider those reports in detail," said Mr Doherty.
