Bloody Sunday probe urged to consider Heath role in ‘disaster’

THE Bloody Sunday inquiry was urged yesterday to determine the extent of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath’s responsibility for the deaths of the 13 people shot dead by troops at the civil rights march in Derry over 30 years ago.

In his final submission to day 431 of the Saville Inquiry, Lord Gifford QC said the inquiry needed to pronounce in its report on the responsibility of British political leaders, including Mr Heath, for "the disaster of Bloody Sunday".

The then Prime Minister had authorised tough action knowing there was a risk of bloodshed on a potentially large scale, he said.