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Saville inquiry 'pointless': Ford | Saville inquiry 'pointless': Ford |
(10 minutes later) | |
The man tipped to become Northern Ireland justice minister has described the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday as "pointless". | The man tipped to become Northern Ireland justice minister has described the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday as "pointless". |
Alliance leader David Ford made the comment last November in a briefing note to the Liberal Democrats. | Alliance leader David Ford made the comment last November in a briefing note to the Liberal Democrats. |
It was ahead of parliamentary questions to the secretary of state. | It was ahead of parliamentary questions to the secretary of state. |
The inquiry was set up in 1998 to re-examine the events of 30 January 1972, when British soldiers shot dead 14 people in Londonderry's Bogside. | The inquiry was set up in 1998 to re-examine the events of 30 January 1972, when British soldiers shot dead 14 people in Londonderry's Bogside. |
In the email entitled 'Northern Ireland Questions', Mr Ford states "Saville is pointless", adding in brackets and "so is any question on it". | In the email entitled 'Northern Ireland Questions', Mr Ford states "Saville is pointless", adding in brackets and "so is any question on it". |
He goes on to write that the secretary of state is concerned at Alliance pushing the community relations policy Shared Future too much. | He goes on to write that the secretary of state is concerned at Alliance pushing the community relations policy Shared Future too much. |
He suggests Shaun Woodward regards it as another distraction on the way to devolving justice. | He suggests Shaun Woodward regards it as another distraction on the way to devolving justice. |
Mr Ford writes: "if we, wanted to be slightly nice to Shaun, we could do a supplementary on the back of a question on the Independent Monitoring Commission." | |
He said it is not that he wants to be "particularly nice to the secretary of state but he is more or less doing the right things at present". | He said it is not that he wants to be "particularly nice to the secretary of state but he is more or less doing the right things at present". |
Soldiers shot 14 people dead in Derry on Bloody Sunday | Soldiers shot 14 people dead in Derry on Bloody Sunday |
"And a question on the IMC would give him a chance to push Sinn Fein and the DUP a bit." | "And a question on the IMC would give him a chance to push Sinn Fein and the DUP a bit." |
Mr Ford then recommends a question along these lines which also involves tackling the dissident threat from republicans and efforts to build a shared future. | Mr Ford then recommends a question along these lines which also involves tackling the dissident threat from republicans and efforts to build a shared future. |
At Northern Ireland Question time that week, 4 November, the Liberal Democrat spokesman Alistair Carmichael did ask questions along those lines. | At Northern Ireland Question time that week, 4 November, the Liberal Democrat spokesman Alistair Carmichael did ask questions along those lines. |
There were five questions on the Saville Inquiry from other MPs. | There were five questions on the Saville Inquiry from other MPs. |
Mr Ford has yet to respond to questions from the BBC about his email. | Mr Ford has yet to respond to questions from the BBC about his email. |
The Saville Inquiry was established in 1998 by then Prime Minister Tony Blair after a campaign by families of those killed and injured. | The Saville Inquiry was established in 1998 by then Prime Minister Tony Blair after a campaign by families of those killed and injured. |
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry is the longest and most expensive inquiry in British legal history. | The Bloody Sunday Inquiry is the longest and most expensive inquiry in British legal history. |
The first witness was heard in November 2000 and the last in January 2005. | The first witness was heard in November 2000 and the last in January 2005. |
Tribunal | |
The tribunal received 2,500 statements from witnesses, with 922 of these called to give direct evidence. | The tribunal received 2,500 statements from witnesses, with 922 of these called to give direct evidence. |
There were also 160 volumes of evidence, containing an estimated 20-30 million words, plus 121 audio tapes and 110 video tapes. | There were also 160 volumes of evidence, containing an estimated 20-30 million words, plus 121 audio tapes and 110 video tapes. |
In February, Mr Ford announced his intention to stand for the position of justice minister at the Northern Ireland Assembly. | |
Mr Ford has been favourite for the post after Sinn Fein and the DUP said they would not fill the role. | |
Under the Hillsborough Castle Agreement the responsibilities for policing and justice are to be devolved by 12 April. | |
The new minister's responsibilities will include policing, the courts, public prosecution service and prisons. | |
The Hillsborough agreement allows for the first and deputy first ministers to identify a candidate who would command cross-community support in the assembly. |