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Campbell challenged by Bloody Sunday relative
Friday, 14 November 2008
enlargeThe brother of a teenager killed on Bloody Sunday yesterday called on Gregory Campbell to support the families’ quest for justice after the DUP MP again criticised the cost of the inquiry.
His comments came as new figures requested by Mr Campbell show that the bill for the Saville Inquiry since the last witness gave evidence almost four years ago has now reached £27m.
A breakdown of the cost revealed that the Northern Ireland Office has spent £26m since February 2005 on staff, accommodation, IT, travel and legal costs for some participants. The remaining £1m is the cost to the Ministry of Defence.
The inquiry is the most expensive public investigation ever held, costing £183m so far with the final bill expected to reach £188m.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell branded the inquiry “the most expensive charade in history”.
John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother was one of 13 men and boys shot dead by paratroopers in the Bogside during a civil rights march in Londonderry in January 30, 1972, responded: “This is typical of Gregory Campbell — at every given opportunity he criticises the inquiry, mostly to do with costs.
“He should be thinking about what the inquiry is about — the search for truth and justice. To us it is immaterial what it costs. You cannot put a price on a human life in a search for truth and justice. He should be concentrating on supporting the families in their quest for truth and justice and not criticising.”
Mr Kelly further accused Mr Campbell of having “no respect for the memory of the people who died that day”, adding that he believed the DUP MP was using the inquiry costs “as a tool to kick the nationalist people”.
Mr Campbell’s comments come just days after it was announced that the Saville Inquiry report has been delayed until the autumn of 2009, despite hopes that it would be out early next year.
Lord Saville sent a letter to the families apologising for the delay but said he wanted to ensure time was spent on dealing thoroughly on the findings.
Mr Kelly said the families wanted a full explanation of the delay in publication, and access to the report at the same time as the the Secretary of State.
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No matter what the outcome of this ‘enquiry’ it will not satisfy the needs of those aggrieved victims, or their long-suffering families. If one could be sure we will get to the ‘truth’ of the matter, it could be argued the massive haemorrhaging of money was worth it. But, getting the truth was not in Saville’s remit. For example, documents released by Dublin, in 2002 under the thirty-year rule showed Donegal senator Paddy McGowan, phoned Dublin on January 31, 1972, to say 16 people had been shot dead and 45 injured "many casualties, having been taken across the border". The one thing we can be sure will not emerge is the truth.
Posted by Wizard | 16.11.08, 00:56 GMT
Another Rant by the down trodden Irish - after it was only they who suffered in the Troubles!!!!
Posted by Harry hapokins | 15.11.08, 20:11 GMT
Another Rant by the down trodden Irish - after it was only they who suffered in the Troubles!!!!
Posted by Harry hapokins | 15.11.08, 20:10 GMT
Mr. Campbell the only charade of note, was the cover-up charade by the British government after the nefarious actions of Para 1 on that terrible Sunday.
Telling the truth at the beginning would have saved the money you are so concerned about. Unfortunately, it would not have brought life back, to the innocent, that where killed that day.
Posted by jim | 15.11.08, 13:19 GMT
It's the British Government and especially the MOD, that are the cause of the high cost of the inquiry. They had to get so many things their own way like making them move the whole inquiry to London. It was people from his city that got murdered that day. Campbell still lives in the past, and unlike Paisley, i doubt if he will ever change.
Posted by Spot on | 14.11.08, 17:28 GMT
I hope the costs treble as it will serve the british right for what they did.
Posted by Tom | 14.11.08, 13:03 GMT
RG I'm quite positive you would not be saying that if it was one of your relatives who had been murdered by the state.
Posted by Barry | 14.11.08, 13:02 GMT
When McGuinness doesn't give full evidence because of his honour to a terrorist organisation then people should be directing some of their anger towards those actually involved on the day and not Gregory Campbell. Campbell has only stated the obvious, that the costs are crazy and the outcome of the inquiry won't be a whole lot different from what most people knew before it commenced.
Posted by RG | 14.11.08, 12:46 GMT