Bloody Sunday film to close to anniversary

A British MP warned today that passions may be inflamed by the showing of the film Bloody Sunday near the 30th anniversary of the tragedy in Derry.

Aldershot MP Gerald Howarth also described the provision of National Lottery money towards making this ‘‘highly partisan’’ film as little short of a national disgrace.

A total of 14 people lost their lives on January 30, 1972 when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights march which turned into riots. The is due to be shown on ITV1 next Sunday.

Mr Howarth has now written to the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr John Reid, requesting his response to the decision to make the film.

Mr Howarth said: ‘‘Given that the Saville Inquiry is supposed to currently to be conducting (at horrendous cost to public funds) a forensic inquiry into the events, I am extremely concerned that this film will serve both to inflame passions and seek to influence the climate in which the Saville Inquiry is being held.

‘‘I have a number of constituents who are former members of the Parachute Regiment and who were present on the day in question.

‘‘They already believe that the conduct of Lord Saville, in resisting every request made by the former soldiers either for the maintenance of anonymity or for the facility of giving their statements on the mainland, has seriously called into question the impartiality of his handling of the inquiry.

‘‘The release of this film at this very sensitive time has added to their concerns.’’

Mr Howarth added: ‘‘I would be interested in your response to a film which seeks in an apparently highly partisan fashion to second-guess the very inquiry for which your Department has responsibility.’’

He has also protested to the National Lottery Commission about the granting of £287,000 to aid production of the film.’’

Another film about this event, simply entitled Sunday, is due to be shown on Channel 4 on January 28.