Bloody Sunday families’ battle for justice will go on – Eastwood

The campaign for justice by families of Bloody Sunday victims is not over despite a decision not to prosecute soldiers for perjury, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said.

However, DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the verdict reached by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) should come as no surprise given the number of years that have passed since Bloody Sunday.

Thirteen people were shot dead when soldiers opened fire on marchers during a civil rights march in Londonderry on January 30 1972.

Despite the Bloody Sunday Inquiry stating some soldiers had knowingly provided it with false accounts, the PPS announced on Friday there was insufficient evidence to prosecute 16 people.

This included 15 soldiers and one alleged former member of the Official IRA.

Mr Eastwood, MP for Foyle, drew attention to the comments of Lord Saville in the inquiry that some soldiers had “knowingly put forward false accounts in order to seek to justify their firing”.

The SDLP leader said: “This is the latest in a long line of decisions which have delayed and denied justice to the Bloody Sunday families.

“Lord Saville’s remarks could not have been clearer.

“The mental, legal and linguistic contortions that have been gone through to protect these soldiers over the last 50 years really beggars belief and stands in stark contrast with the way families have been treated.”

He added: “I know this is another difficult moment for these families, but the people of Derry, and people all across the world, know the truth about what happened here that day.

“The campaign for justice is not over, not by a long stretch, and we’ll continue to stand with the families for as long as it takes.”

But Mr Campbell, the East Londonderry MP, said it was obvious that the prosecutions could not have proceeded.

He said: “The decision from the PPS not to proceed with prosecutions against soldiers who were on duty in Londonderry during the day known as Bloody Sunday more than 52 years ago should come as no surprise.

“The passage of time makes any decision not to proceed in the absence of new compelling evidence fairly obvious.”

Mr Campbell said the decision also demonstrated there is no need for the Government’s new laws to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

The new Act received royal assent last year despite widespread opposition from political parties, victims’ organisations in Northern Ireland and the Irish government.

Aspects of the laws include a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences to those who co-operate with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

In February, a judge at Belfast High Court ruled that the provision for conditional immunity was not compliant with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The Government is appealing against that finding.

Sinn Fein MLA for Foyle Padraig Delargy said the PPS decision was “deeply disappointing” for the Bloody Sunday families.

He added: “The families have faced many hurdles in their 52 year long campaign for justice, and I have no doubt they will remain steadfast and resolute in whatever steps they take next.”

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll expressed solidarity with the Bloody Sunday families.

He said: “Serious questions must be asked of the Public Prosecution Service following today’s decision.”