Relatives of those killed on Bloody Sunday are questioning the impartiality of the inquiry into the events of that day, following today’s ruling by a London court that former British soldiers will not have to appear in person at the inquiry.
The High Court in London today dismissed Lord Saville’s appeal against a ruling that held that former members of the Parachute Regiment who were on duty on Bloody Sunday would not have to give evidence to the inquiry in Derry.
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Thirteen demonstrators were shot dead and a fourteenth died some days later after the parachute regiment opened fire on a civil rights march in Derry on January 30th 1972.
Mr John Kelly, a relative of one of those killed, said that the families of the victims were very disappointed by today’s decision, but "certainly not surprised."
"This is total interference by an inferior English court into the opinion of three judges of international standing," Mr Kelly said.
He said the families believed that today’s ruling belittles the inquiry.
"We were promised an impartial, independent inquiry and that is not the case," said Mr Kelly.
The families are conducting meetings over the course of the day to discuss the ruling.
In the appeal, the ex-paratroopers said their having to attend would breach Human Rights Act provisions that everyone has a right to have their life protected by law.
Mr Christopher Clarke QC, representing Lord Saville, argued the tribunal was entitled to conclude the soldiers had no reasonable reason to fear for their safety because of the protection the security services would provide, and that not to call them would make the tribunal's procedure unfair.
Last month, two English high court judges overturned a decision by the inquiry tribunal, headed by Lord Saville of Newdigate, that the soldiers must attend in person at Derry's Guildhall.
Lord Justice Rose, sitting with Mr Justice Sullivan, said the tribunal had misdirected itself in law as to the legal test to be applied when assessing the threshold of risk to soldier witnesses from terrorist reprisals.
In the High Court decision, Lord Justice Rose had said recent events in the province, including attacks on barracks, showed that despite intensive security precautions, terrorist activity did put soldiers' lives at risk.