McGUINNESS ALLEGATIONS:NORTHERN IRELAND Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has denied he was armed on the day of Bloody Sunday, claiming the allegation was a smear by British agents.
Speaking to reporters at the Guildhall in Derry yesterday, Mr McGuinness said the report by Lord Saville had cleared everyone living in the city of any blame.
“He [Lord Saville] fully pointed the finger of blame for what happened directly at the British parachute regiment,” he said.
When asked by reporters about the claim that he was carrying a machine gun, he said: “I am absolutely denying that”. The report found Mr McGuinness was “probably” armed in Derry on Bloody Sunday.
“Before the soldiers of support company went into the Bogside he was probably armed with a submachine gun, and although it is possible that he fired this weapon, there is insufficient evidence to make any finding on this, save that we are sure that he did not engage in any activity that provided any of the soldiers with any justification for opening fire,” the report said.
Speaking shortly before the report was published, Mr McGuinness said the British state had decided to send in the parachute regiment to teach the people of Derry a lesson.
“Here we are 38 years on, almost 40 years on, and it is quite clear these families, who have stood up against the British state, have taught the British state and military a lesson I think they will never forget,” he said. He also called for a wide-ranging “independent, international tribunal” into the past. Derry MP Gregory Campbell of the DUP, criticised the report last night. He said thousands of British people had been denied justice and may never know who was responsible for killing their loved ones.
“Those affected by those days have been left to deal with their grief in their own private way without the largesse of the state or the lionising of the media,” he said.