Heath 'sought to counter bad publicity' of Widgery

Former British Prime Minister Mr Edward Heath suggested the British army should give evidence first at the initial Widgery Inquiry…

Former British Prime Minister Mr Edward Heath suggested the British army should give evidence first at the initial Widgery Inquiry into Bloody Sunday in order to counter any bad publicity, the Saville Inquiry was told today.

The suggestion was recorded in a letter dated February 9th, 1072 from Mr John Heritage, a senior member of the legal staff at the Widgery investigation into Bloody Sunday.

The letter to Sir Basil Hall, the inquiry's solicitor, also includes details of a meeting Mr Heritage attended on the same day with Lord Widgery, then the Lord Chief Justice and inquiry counsel Mr John Stocker.

The first point in the letter, which was read out at the Bloody Sunday Tribunal in London today, read: "PM had suggested army should go on first, to counter-act bad impression of days of hostile evidence before their 'defence'."

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Strong anti-military feeling was expected at the Widgery Inquiry into the killing of 13 unarmed civilians on a Derry march on January 30th, 1972.

Mr Heritage said he could not remember when or in what circumstances Mr Heath's suggestion was made.

The letter points out that Mr Brian Gibbens QC, senior counsel for the Ministry of Defence, would probably prefer to go last enabling him to be in a better position to counter an allegations against them.

PA