NI DPP 'not involved in Bloody Sunday probe'

The Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions was not involved in the police decision to launch a murder investigation into the Bloody Sunday killings, his office said today.

Barra McGrory QC represented Martin McGuinness in the marathon Saville Inquiry into the shootings in Derry in January 1972 when the Sinn Féin MP was an IRA leader in the city.

A report which confirmed the innocence of the 13 men shot dead by British Paratroopers also claimed that Mr McGuinness, now the deputy Northern Ireland First Minister, gave wrong information about his movements that day and was probably carrying a machine gun which he may have used to open fire on troops.

A 14th victim died later.

The Chief Constable of the PSNI Matt Baggott said the new police investigation involving up to 40 officers could take four years to complete.

Mr McGrory, then a solicitor, represented Mr McGuiness at the Saville probe into the shootings, but insisted today he had no part in the decision by the Chief Constable to begin a murder inquiry.

A spokesperson said that when he took up his position as Director last November he had identified Bloody Sunday as one of a number of cases in which there may be a potential conflict of interest.

She added: “The Director had therefore already determined that he would not be involved in any decision as to whether or not to prosecute in those cases.”