14/01/2003
Heath denies ‘cover-up’ claims at Saville Inquiry
The former Conservative Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath has slammed suggestions that the British government planned the events of Bloody Sunday as "absurd".
Sir Edward arrived amid tight security at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, which had been transferred to London, to give his evidence. The appearance of the 86-year-old was postponed last month when he fell ill a few days before he was due to testify.
The Saville tribunal, which has been running since 1998, is investigating the circumstances leading up to the killing of 13 people by paratroopers in Derry during a civil rights on January 30 1972.
"The tragic deaths outraged the Catholic community, increased support for the IRA and destroyed the prospect of a political initiative," Sir Edward said in his inquiry statement.
"It is therefore absurd to suggest that Her Majesty's Government intended or was prepared to risk the events which occurred."
As prime minister in 1972 Sir Edward ordered the original Widgery Inquiry into Bloody Sunday. He also denied pressuring Lord Widgery into producing a report that was favourable to the security forces and said the conclusions reached were achieved "without fear and favour".
Many of the survivors and relatives of the victims who dismissed the original Widgery Inquiry as a whitewash are expected to be at the London sitting.
Sir Edward is expected to give evidence only for short periods each day for the next three weeks due to his poor health.
(GMcG)
Sir Edward arrived amid tight security at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, which had been transferred to London, to give his evidence. The appearance of the 86-year-old was postponed last month when he fell ill a few days before he was due to testify.
The Saville tribunal, which has been running since 1998, is investigating the circumstances leading up to the killing of 13 people by paratroopers in Derry during a civil rights on January 30 1972.
"The tragic deaths outraged the Catholic community, increased support for the IRA and destroyed the prospect of a political initiative," Sir Edward said in his inquiry statement.
"It is therefore absurd to suggest that Her Majesty's Government intended or was prepared to risk the events which occurred."
As prime minister in 1972 Sir Edward ordered the original Widgery Inquiry into Bloody Sunday. He also denied pressuring Lord Widgery into producing a report that was favourable to the security forces and said the conclusions reached were achieved "without fear and favour".
Many of the survivors and relatives of the victims who dismissed the original Widgery Inquiry as a whitewash are expected to be at the London sitting.
Sir Edward is expected to give evidence only for short periods each day for the next three weeks due to his poor health.
(GMcG)
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