British soldiers must return to NI to give evidence

British soldiers called to give evidence at the Bloody Sunday Tribunal must return to the province to give their evidence at the Tribunal sitting in the Guildhall in Derry.

Set up to investigate the Bloody Sunday shootings the Saville inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting dead of 13 civilians at a human right march held in the city in January 1972.

Up to 250 soldiers may be called to give evidence at the multi-million pound Tribunal which is not expected to produce its final report before 2003.

Lord Saville said he had given careful consideration to the representations made by the soldiers’ lawyers, but considered that there was “no compelling evidence” for the soldiers to give evidence away from Derry.

Three options had been considered: moving the Tribunal to England; the use of a video link; and holding the hearings in Derry. However, Lord Saville said that he thought that public confidence in the proceedings would be seriously undermined if the Tribunal moved out of Derry.

Relatives of those killed on Bloody Sunday have welcomed the decision, but the former commanding officer of the Parachute Regiment labelled the decision “scandalous” maintaining that it would endanger the lives of the men called to give evidence.

The Tribunal is currently in recess and is not expected to sit again until 3 September 2001. (SP)