Saville Inquiry: Witness screens decision stands, rules judge

A Belfast High Court judge has rejected a bid by the sister of a Bloody Sunday victim to overturn a ruling that allows some police witnesses to give evidence behind protective screens.

Mary Doherty, sister of Gerard Donaghy who was accused of carrying nail bombs on the day of the Bloody Sunday shooting on January 30 1972, had claimed the ruling infringed promises to the family that the Bloody Sunday inquiry would be open.

But in a judicial review decision lasting 40 minutes, Mr Justice Kerr sided with the inquiry that the 20 police officers should give evidence behind protective screens because there were reasonable fears that if they were identified they would be potential targets for republican terrorists.

The Saville Inquiry had ruled earlier this month that there was a genuine threat to the police witnesses from Provisional IRA and dissident republican terrorist groups.

It based this on security assessments from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

In his 35-page ruling, Mr Justice Kerr agreed with the Inquiry that there appeared to be a genuine threat to the police officers concerned.

An application by the relatives of the 14 people who died as a result of the Bloody Sunday shooting that they should be able to see the police officers while they give evidence behind the protective screens was also dismissed today on the grounds that it would present logistical problems for the Inquiry.