18 February 2003

Orde describes Bloody Sunday Inquiry as 'waste of money'

PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has described the latest Bloody Sunday tribunal as a "waste of money".

Mr Orde, who made his comments in Tuesday's edition of the Financial Times, also claimed that the Saville Inquiry into the deaths of 14 civilians in 1972 was unlikely to satisfy the families or any of the other groups involved.

The Chief Constable was quoted in the today's paper as saying: "Apart from making lawyers millionaires, will it satisfy the families? I don't think so."

The total cost of the inquiry is likely to exceed £125m during its five-year period with a final report into the incident expected next year. Mr Orde said such money could have helped in the creation of two police colleges, a move he believes is essential for the future of Northern Ireland policing.

Mr Orde's reports immediately caused a flurry of condemnation from across Northern Ireland not least from the relatives of victims from that fateful day in January 1972.

Mickey McKinney, whose brother William was one of those killed, said he was astonished at the Chief Constable's remarks.

He added: " He obviously doesn't understand the relatives' feelings and how much it matters to them in determining the truth and our request for a declaration of innocence for all our people."

John Kelly, 54, whose brother Michael died, was also furious with the Chief Constable. He said: "The costs for the search for justice and truth should be immaterial. Does this mean that every time a case comes before the courts, it is a waste of time and money?

"Has Hugh Orde joined the unionists who are the only people who criticise this inquiry? I think he owes us an apology."

DUP policing spokesperson, Ian Paisley jnr said although the Chief Constable was renowned for shooting "from the hip" his remarks were "refreshingly realistic".

"Everybody knows that this enquiry into Bloody Sunday cannot bring lives back… It will probably not discover anything else in terms of truth or what the families regard as justice."

He also described the Saville Inquiry as a huge drain in resources and a huge waste of resources: "The Chief Constable is absolutely right. It's not going to satisfy the families, the public, Sinn Fein, or anyone else."

However, Sinn Fein chairperson, Mitchell McLaughlin hit back saying the Chief Constable's comments were "a complete red herring".

He added: "In making these comments he [Hugh Orde] has once again highlighted the political nature of both his and the PSNI's role.

"The fact remains that the British state, through members of the PSNI, the RUC and the British army, actively worked to target and kill its citizens and it is not up to Mr Orde to decide what will or will not satisfy the families of those killed."

Prime Minister Tony Blair established the Bloody Sunday Saville Inquiry in 1998 after a campaign by the families of those killed and injured.

The Inquiry, led by Lord Saville of Newdigate, is not expected to report back until 2004.

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