New venue for Saville Inquiry to be decided

The exact venue for the former soldiers’ evidence to be given in the Bloody Sunday tribunal was not given in today’s ruling with Lord Saville only speaking of Great Britain.

He said: ‘‘We have put in hand steps to obtain suitable premises and to make appropriate arrangements for this part of the hearing which we plan to include reasonable facilities for family members to attend if they are able and wish to do so.

‘‘However we shall also provide a live videolink from the inquiry to this city for people to watch the proceedings from here.

‘‘We wish to maintain the present facilities in this city while this part of the inquiry takes place elsewhere, so that we can return without delay to complete here as much of our work as possible.

‘‘On our present estimates we hope to be ready to make this move some time in the summer. As soon as possible we shall announce the specific arrangements that we have made and a revised timetable for the rest of the hearings.’’

Afterwards Peter Madden, whose law firm represents the bulk of bereaved and injured, said: ‘‘The families are happy that the soldiers will be examined in person by their legal representatives, even though it is of great inconvenience and disruption to them, having to leave Derry where they wanted the soldiers to give their evidence.’’

The logistics of the move were not spelt out in the ruling either, but Lord Saville indicated that at least some duplication could be expected.

The inquiry intended to maintain the existing facilities in the city while the inquiry sat elsewhere to ensure no delays on the return to Derry.

Facilities in the majestic setting of the Guildhall include one of the finest technical systems ever established for a legal hearing, including a live note of proceedings for all the lawyers, and screens displaying events in the hall and documents, photographs and videos being discussed.

The public sessions of the inquiry are also shown live by a link-up to private family rooms, a comfortable media centre near the Guildhall, and the Rialto Theatre for any overspill from the public gallery. Those facilities will be maintained from the new venue.

The tribunal has offices in London and in Derry’s Calgagh Centre and the judges and English lawyers currently working between the two cities, most of them staying in hotels in and around Derry during the Monday to Thursday public hearings.

The tribunal had initially been minded to remain in Derry, taking the evidence by video link, claiming it remained of the view that the proper place for the inquiry was the city where the events of Bloody Sunday took place.

Lawyers representing the 13 families bereaved by the shootings of January 30 1972 and those injured on the day were known to have been opposed to the plan, fearing it would weaken the effectiveness of the questioning of those in the box.

Lord Saville said it would remain the case that some witnesses may have to testify by video link - it has already given permission for a former MI5 agent, known as Observer B, to do so.