24 September 2002

Bloody Sunday Inquiry moves to London

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry has moved to London to hear evidence from former British soldiers who were serving in Northern Ireland on the day 13 civilians were shot dead in Londonderry.

About 300 military witnesses are expected to testify at the inquiry in Westminster. However, the soldiers who fired on the crowd on January 30 1972 are not expected to speak for a number of weeks yet.

The siting of the inquiry in London represent a minor legal victory for the soldiers who successfully appealed against a decision which would have made them give their evidence at the Guild Hall in Londonderry. They argued their lives could be at risk from reprisal attacks from dissident republicans.

As a result, proceedings are to be relayed back to the Guild Hall from London via video link.

The first member of the military to give evidence today was retired general Sir Frank Kitson.

Mr Kitson was commander of 39 Brigade, which included 1 Para – the unit which had fired on civilians during clashes at the Rossville flats area of the city. Mr Kitson, who was not there on the day, said he had "every confidence" in the unit, adding that they were not "excessively forceful" in carrying out their duties.

He also defended accusations that 1 Para had a reputation for "toughness and brutality" by saying those that made such accusations were "mistaken".

He said that on many occasions members of the regiment "exhibited a natural compassion, comforting and assisting the victims of bombs and riots".

The inquiry, which is expected to hand over its findings to the government in 2004, has come in for criticism over soaring legal and running costs – now in the region of £200 million.

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