Six-year-long Saville Inquiry concludes today

Six years, 900 witnesses and at a cost in excess of £150 million, the Saville Inquiry into the events on Bloody Sunday will come to an end at Derry's Guildhall today.

Counsel to the inquiry Christopher Clarke QC will finish delivering his brief summary of the evidence in a closing speech he began on Monday which will bring an end to the investigation into the deaths of 14 civilians shot by soldiers during a civil rights march in Derry on January 30, 1972.

Mr Clarke said on Monday that it was still unclear which soldiers shot 27 civilians on Bloody Sunday and that the central question was why and how civilians were killed or wounded on that fateful day 32 years ago.

The inquiry began to hold public hearings in March 2000 and has now sat for 433 days, hearing evidence from 921 witnesses as well as considering 1,555 written statements from witnesses.

The inquiry has heard evidence from leading politicians, including the then Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, civilians, policemen, soldiers and IRA members.

The Saville Inquiry’s final report and conclusions are not expected to be made public until next summer.

(MB/SP)