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Bloody Sunday investigators arrest 66-year-old former soldier Bloody Sunday investigators arrest 66-year-old former soldier
(about 2 hours later)
Detectives in Northern Ireland investigating the Bloody Sunday shootings in 1972 have arrested a former British soldier in County Antrim.Detectives in Northern Ireland investigating the Bloody Sunday shootings in 1972 have arrested a former British soldier in County Antrim.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s legacy investigation branch said he is 66 years old. He would have been 23 at the time of the shootings.The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s legacy investigation branch said he is 66 years old. He would have been 23 at the time of the shootings.
Detectives from Legacy Investigation Branch investigating the events of Bloody Sunday have arrested a 66 yo man in Co Antrim this morning.Detectives from Legacy Investigation Branch investigating the events of Bloody Sunday have arrested a 66 yo man in Co Antrim this morning.
The officer leading the investigation, DCI Ian Harrison, said the arrest marked a new phase in the overall inquiry that would continue for some time.The officer leading the investigation, DCI Ian Harrison, said the arrest marked a new phase in the overall inquiry that would continue for some time.
Thirteen civil rights demonstrators were killed by members of the Parachute Regiment on the streets of Derry in January 1972. Another victim of the shootings died months later.Thirteen civil rights demonstrators were killed by members of the Parachute Regiment on the streets of Derry in January 1972. Another victim of the shootings died months later.
It is the first arrest since the events of Bloody Sunday nearly 44 years ago.It is the first arrest since the events of Bloody Sunday nearly 44 years ago.
The investigation, launched in 2012, started after a government-commissioned inquiry undertaken by Lord Saville found none of the victims posed a threat to soldiers when they were shot. After the publication of Lord Saville’s report in 2010, David Cameron apologised for the army’s actions, branding them “unjustified and unjustifiable”.The investigation, launched in 2012, started after a government-commissioned inquiry undertaken by Lord Saville found none of the victims posed a threat to soldiers when they were shot. After the publication of Lord Saville’s report in 2010, David Cameron apologised for the army’s actions, branding them “unjustified and unjustifiable”.
In September, the PSNI announced that its Legacy branch officers intended to interview seven former soldiers about their involvement on the day. The suspect detained on Tuesday has been taken to a station in Belfast for questioning.In September, the PSNI announced that its Legacy branch officers intended to interview seven former soldiers about their involvement on the day. The suspect detained on Tuesday has been taken to a station in Belfast for questioning.
The retired soldier was formally arrested in Antrim police station. It is not clear whether he is from Northern Ireland or had previously been invited over from England to attend for questioning.The retired soldier was formally arrested in Antrim police station. It is not clear whether he is from Northern Ireland or had previously been invited over from England to attend for questioning.
In June, the BBC reported that the PSNI has contacted more than 100 soldiers as part of the investigation. The contacts followed renewed criticism of the police inquiry by some Bloody Sunday families. In June, the BBC reported that the PSNI has contacted more than 100 soldiers as part of the investigation. The contacts followed renewed criticism of the police inquiry by some families of Bloody Sunday victims.
Harrison said at the time his team had completed its civilian witness inquiries and made contact with more than 100 soldiers to “determine if they are willing to engage with us”. He stressed that the soldiers were witnesses, not suspects, and were therefore not obliged to speak to the team.Harrison said at the time his team had completed its civilian witness inquiries and made contact with more than 100 soldiers to “determine if they are willing to engage with us”. He stressed that the soldiers were witnesses, not suspects, and were therefore not obliged to speak to the team.
Some Bloody Sunday families have criticised the police investigation. In a letter to Harrison this year, the families said they were losing faith in the investigation because they had “heard nothing from the PSNI since a meeting in January and were entirely unaware of what progress had been made”.Some Bloody Sunday families have criticised the police investigation. In a letter to Harrison this year, the families said they were losing faith in the investigation because they had “heard nothing from the PSNI since a meeting in January and were entirely unaware of what progress had been made”.
The Ministry of Defence said it would be inappropriate to comment on a continuing criminal investigation: “We are aware an ex-soldier has been arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in connection with its investigation into the events of Bloody Sunday. It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing criminal investigation at this stage.” The Ministry of Defence said it would be inappropriate to comment on a continuing criminal investigation. It said: “We are aware an ex-soldier has been arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in connection with its investigation into the events of Bloody Sunday. It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing criminal investigation at this stage.”
In 2013, the MoD offered the families of those shot dead about £50,000 each in compensation.In 2013, the MoD offered the families of those shot dead about £50,000 each in compensation.
Peter Madden, the solicitor who represenrted most of the families at the Bloody Siunday Inquiry, said: “This is a major step forward in the investigation into the murders. The question is going to be whether his identity will be disclosed to the public.Peter Madden, the solicitor who represenrted most of the families at the Bloody Siunday Inquiry, said: “This is a major step forward in the investigation into the murders. The question is going to be whether his identity will be disclosed to the public.
“In the Saville inquiry, the names of the shooters were not identified. They were known by different letters. Judging from their voices during the inquiry, most of them were English.“In the Saville inquiry, the names of the shooters were not identified. They were known by different letters. Judging from their voices during the inquiry, most of them were English.
“We have had several meetings with the PSNI investigation team. There seemed to be sufficient grounds for arresting people before now.”“We have had several meetings with the PSNI investigation team. There seemed to be sufficient grounds for arresting people before now.”
None of the families have accepted the £50,000 compensation offered by the MoD for the killings. There are civil compensation claims going currently going through the Northeren Ireland courts. None of the families has accepted the £50,000 compensation offered by the MoD. There are civil compensation claims going currently going through the Northeren Ireland courts.
John Kelly, of the Museum of Free Derry whose 17 year old brother Michael was killed on Bloody Sunday, said: “No soliders have ever been arrested before now. We have been looking forward to this for nearly 44 years. John Kelly of the Museum of Free Derry, whose 17-year-old brother Michael was killed on Bloody Sunday, said: “No soldiers have ever been arrested before now. We have been looking forward to this for nearly 44 years.
“It’s the beginning of the final part of the process. I don’ty know whethr this is someone who has been living in Northern Ireland or England. This is about getting justice for our loved ones, the innocent people who were murdered. “It’s the beginning of the final part of the process. I don’t know whether this is someone who has been living in Northern Ireland or England. This is about getting justice for our loved ones, the innocent people who were murdered.
“I hope it will not take long to see these people in court being charged for what they did on Bloody Sunday - killing children. There should have been arrests when Saville produced his report. We bbnelieve that everyone who fired that day should have been prosecuted. “I hope it will not take long to see these people in court being charged for what they did on Bloody Sunday – killing children. There should have been arrests when Saville produced his report. We believe that everyone who fired that day should have been prosecuted.
“My brother, Michael, was 17 when he died. I’m looking forward to seeing the soldier[who killed him] being arrested. I hope we will see these people in court soon for murder and attemped murder.”The PSNI has said that 34 military and 310 civilian witness statements have been recorded so far in their investigation into the atrocity. “My brother Michael was 17 when he died. I’m looking forward to seeing the soldier [who killed him] being arrested. I hope we will see these people in court soon for murder and attemped murder.”
Linda Nash, whose brother,, William Nash, was also killed, said: “I am sceptical at this stage. I am aware of the political situation here so I will await to see if a soldier is charged. I’ve had way too many disappointments in the past to feel anything.”
The PSNI has said that 34 military and 310 civilian witness statements have been recorded so far in its investigation into Bloody Sunday.