Bloody Sunday report delay 'unacceptable'

The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness told British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today that a delay in publishing the Bloody Sunday report was unacceptable.

He and Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams met Mr Brown in London. The mammoth dossier from Lord Saville was made available to Government lawyers today.

Thirteen people died after paratroopers opened fire during a civil rights march in Derry in January 1972. Another person died of their injuries some time later.

Mr McGuinness said: “The imminent announcement of a British general election should not be used by the British government as an excuse to delay the publication of the Saville report.

“The families have already faced years of frustration in seeking the truth. After 12 years of the Saville Inquiry there should be no further delays. The report should be published.”

Government lawyers are to check the contents of the report for material which could pose a threat to life or national security ahead of publication.

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward confirmed the development in the House of Commons.

“Without the Saville Inquiry, there would have been no stable peace process,” he said.

“Because of the inquiry, it has been possible to establish the bona fides for a peace process to succeed, and all of the house will be grateful for that success.”

Once the report has been checked, Lord Saville will hand it to the Northern Ireland Secretary for publication.

This may be delayed until after a general election.

The Sinn Féin leaders also pressed Mr Brown to bring forward new proposals on a Bill of Rights taking into account advice from the Human Rights Commission and Bill of Rights Forum. They called for social and economic protection for citizens.

Mr Adams said: “We need a robust, enforceable Bill of Rights that will provide rights-based protection for all our people.”