'Evidence witheld' from Bloody Sunday probe

The British Ministry of Defence is still withholding evidence from the Bloody Sunday Inquiry even though it is more than three years into its hearings, it was claimed tonight.

The families of those killed and injured when paratroopers opened fire in Derry on January 30, 1972, said today’s submission of an army document written shortly after the shootings showed the inquiry was being frustrated.

The document emerged as Colonel Ted Loden, the then major in command of the army unit which fired more than 100 shots on the day 13 civil rights marchers were killed, continued his testimony to the Saville Inquiry in London.

Colonel Loden said he interviewed most of the men in his unit who fired on Bloody Sunday in the back of an armoured car that evening and wrote down a list of 15 engagements, which was later typed up.

However, an exact replica of that document in the handwriting of General Sir Mike Jackson, who was an adjutant in the Parachute Regiment at the time, was shown to the inquiry today.

Christopher Clarke QC, counsel to the inquiry, said the document was disclosed yesterday when a representative of the Ministry of Defence remembered seeing it and wondered if the inquiry had got it when a related issue arose.

The relatives of the dead and injured claimed in a statement tonight that the late discovery of the document was yet another example of the Ministry of Defence frustrating the inquiry.

“More than three years into oral hearings, the Ministry of Defence is still withholding evidence from the Bloody Sunday Inquiry,” it said.

“This is the only conclusion to be drawn from the revelation today that the Ministry ‘discovered’ yet another key document overnight.”

The families said the issue raised the question of how many other documents had been withheld.

“The inquiry was told this morning that a MoD official suddenly realised yesterday that this document might be relevant to the proceedings. This beggars belief. We don’t believe a word of it,” the statement said.

“It confirms to us that the ministry is sitting on documents relevant to the inquiry which it is only releasing on a drip-feed basis as and when it suits the case being made by the paras. It raises the question of what other documents are being deliberately withheld.

“Once again, we see the MoD obstructing the progress of an inquiry set up by the (British) government and this despite assurances from Prime Minister Blair himself that there would be the fullest co-operation by all (British) government departments and officials.”

The families called on Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to explain publicly “why this continues to happen and to undertake that all outstanding material relevant to the inquiry to be made available immediately”.

“The current situation is a scandal which compounds the offence of Bloody Sunday itself,” the statement said.

“It is totally unacceptable to us.”

Col Loden is the 749th witness to appear before the Saville Inquiry.

He only testifies in the mornings and is expected to return to the witness box next week.

The inquiry, which usually sits at the Guildhall in Derry, is currently hearing the evidence of military witnesses and others in London because of concerns for their safety.

Lord Saville of Newdigate and the Commonwealth judges accompanying him on the Bloody Sunday inquiry began their work nearly four years ago and are not expected to report back until 2004.

The Bloody Sunday inquiry was established in 1998 by British Prime Minister Tony Blair after a campaign by families of those killed and injured.