Bloody Sunday Enquiry reveals...

[Gromit]

David Cameron said:
• No warning had been given to any civilians before the soldiers opened fire
• None of the soldiers fired in response to attacks by petrol bombers or stone throwers
• Some of those killed or injured were clearly fleeing or going to help those injured or dying
• None of the casualties was posing a threat or doing anything that would justify their shooting
• The events of Bloody Sunday were not justified
• Many of the soldiers lied about their actions
• Some members of the British armed forces acted wrongly
• The events of Bloody Sunday were not premeditated

Comments please

[joeluke]

£200 million +

What a waste of money that could have been spent on other things

[Zeuhl]

joeluke's right; the army's 'recklessness' that day has cost us a fortune.

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[Zeuhl]

If any of the bereaved and injured were still alive I expect we would.

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[sandyRoe]

To the people who think the forces of government can do no wrong, I'd say this. Imagine a relative of yours had been shot in the back and the killer, though known, was never brought to justice. How would you feel?

[sandyRoe]

True redHelen. But this was unique because the forces of the government shot into a crowd and then their actions were covered up by the government of the day and subsequent ones.

[squarebear]

Am I missing something? I thought this was nearly 40 years ago?

[Sqad]

Shooting an unarmed civilian is unacceptable as is shooting a retreating unarmed civilian. My son did three tours of duty in the Marines in Northern Ireland and he explained that as a "mob" these "unarmed" civilians would tear you limb from limb if you were caught. You were petrol bombed and shot at by people who hated you. Some of the lads were just 18yr old plus and scared to death when confronted by these baying "unarmed" mobs.

Just to put the other side of the coin.

[RebelSouls]

squarebear you missed a big pay packet if you were not on the enquiry team

[squarebear]

That's the only reason I can see why this was dragged up.

[sandyRoe]

It's not quite ancient history yet Squarebear. If you'd spent those years grieving for a deal relation it might not seem like nearly 40 years ago.

[sandyRoe]

dead rather than deal ^^^

[squarebear]

mmm. suppose so. I see no good from anyone admitting blame 40 years on though. What good will that do. Suddenly, you stop grieveing?

All this will do is to bring it back into people's minds.

[sandyRoe]

You would probably never stop grieving. But to add insult to injury the government claimed that the victims of that day were nail-bombers and gunmen. So, people were shot dead and then their names were dragged through the mud.

[alexanderd]

If these soldiers are going to be prosecuted why dont we prosecute the IRA? some of them are in our parliament so we know who they are

[craft1948]

alexanderd I feel sick every time I see McGuiness's smug face and hear the stomach churning platitudes he comes out with.

[jake-the-peg]

It was difficult for troops in Northern Ireland Sqad

This was not one of those occasions

The enquiry found that None of the casualties was posing a threat or doing anything that would justify their shooting

It also found that many of the soldiers lied about their actions

Joeluke this is absolutely *Not* a waste of money

For years this event has been a bloody stain on the British Governments reputation

By having this enquiry, acknowleding the wrongdoings and appologising for it. It puts it behind us - it makes it part of the history not part of the problem.

To be honest the person most to blame was whoever thought that a regiment like the Paras was a suitable group of people to put into a sensitive situation like Northern Ireland