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Ford Saville remarks criticised Ford Saville remarks criticised
(41 minutes later)
Sinn Fein has said David Ford should meet the Bloody Sunday families after he described the Saville Inquiry into the shootings in 1972 as "pointless". The Alliance leader has offered to meet the Bloody Sunday families after he was criticised for calling the Saville Inquiry "pointless".
The Alliance leader, tipped to be NI justice minister, made the comment last November in a briefing note to the Liberal Democrats. David Ford, tipped to be NI justice minister, made the comment last November in a leaked briefing note.
It was ahead of parliamentary questions to the secretary of state.It was ahead of parliamentary questions to the secretary of state.
Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney described Mr Ford's comments as "offensive and hurtful" to the families. SDLP MP Mark Durkan said Mr Ford did not "care a jot" about Bloody Sunday while SF Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney said the comments were "offensive".
He said they would be received "with disdain by the vast majority of citizens of Derry". Mr McCartney said the "gratuitous" remarks would be received "with disdain by the vast majority of citizens of Derry".
"Mr Ford should do the honourable thing and request a meeting at the earliest convenience with the families to explain his reasoning for making these gratuitous and offensive remarks," he added. SDLP MP for Foyle, Mark Durkan accused Mr Ford of insensitivity.
The South Antrim MLA's remark has been branded insensitive by the SDLP MP for Foyle, Mark Durkan. He said: "One thing he doesn't know is the importance of the Saville Inquiry and the significance of Bloody Sunday, not just to the families who lost loved ones but also to the community in Derry and many people beyond."
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. Grievous
Mr Durkan said the "grievous" wrongs of Bloody Sunday had been compounded by the subsequent Widgery Inquiry which nationalists have condemned as a whitewash.
He added: "The Alliance Party does not care a jot about that issue."
The Saville 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.
Tony Doherty, whose father Patrick, was killed on Bloody Sunday said Mr Ford "should be ashamed of himself" and called on him to withdraw his "grossly insensitive" remark.Tony Doherty, whose father Patrick, was killed on Bloody Sunday said Mr Ford "should be ashamed of himself" and called on him to withdraw his "grossly insensitive" remark.
He said it amounted to "arrogance and dismissiveness".He said it amounted to "arrogance and dismissiveness".
An Alliance Party spokesman said Mr Ford would not be making any comment on the matter.