Gregory Campbell MP for the DUP in the city has said that “undue significance” has been attached to Bloody Sunday.
“Undue significance has been attached to what was a tragedy, but the context must be established,” he told RTE radio’s Today with Sean O’Rourke show.
The context in which the soldiers were deployed on that day must be clarified, he said.
“The soldiers believed they were going into a demonstration that was likely to turn violent.
“I was there as a teenager that day as petrol bombs rained down, as shops and soldier were attacked and police were killed.
“There was violence for weeks, that’s why they were deployed. There was no inquiry into the deaths of the police officers.”
Mr Campbell said that it had been fairly clear that there was going to be a prosecution. The Saville Inquiry had not taken the circumstances under which the British soldiers were operating in the Bog Side.
The decision to prosecute compounded the “imbalance of the legacy of the past” he added.
If there was specific information on any person that was likely to lead to a prosecution then that should go ahead, no matter what the length of time. He said he was an ardent advocate for that.
There would not have been an inquiry if there had not been political pressure. He said he had warned that neither the Saville Inquiry, nor the apology by David Cameron “would put a line underneath it.”
“I told them, ‘you are fools if you believe this is the end.’ There won’t be an end until there is prosecution.”
Families gathered to give their reaction in Derry’s Guildhall.
John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael was killed, said many had received a “terrible disappointment”.
But he welcomed the positive news for the six families impacted by the decision to prosecute soldier F.
“Their victory is our victory,” he said.
We have walked a long journey since our fathers and brothers were brutally slaughtered on the streets of Derry on Bloody Sunday, over that passage of time all the parents of the deceased have died – we are here to take their place.
Mr Kelly highlighted there were legal means of challenging the decisions not to prosecute.
“The Bloody Sunday families are not finished yet,” he said.
Solicitor for a number of the Bloody Sunday families, Ciaran Shiels, said: “This is a remarkable achievement by the families and victims of Bloody Sunday.
“Notwithstanding the unprecedented attempted political interference with the independence of the judicial process, the families have not only succeeded in consigning the Widgery report to history, and securing the complete vindication and declaration of innocence of all of the victims of Bloody Sunday through the Saville Inquiry, they have now secured the prosecution of Soldier F for the murder and attempted murder of six innocent people.
“We are disappointed that not all of those responsible are to face trial.
“We will give detailed consideration to the reasons provided for decisions not to prosecute the other soldiers, with a view to making further submissions to the Prosecution Service and we shall ultimately challenge in the High Court, by way of judicial review, any prosecutorial decision that does not withstand scrutiny.”
Families, relatives and supporters of those died gather outside the Guildhall in Derry. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Founder of the Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans group Alan Barry said: “It’s one soldier too many as far as we’re concerned.
“It’s very one-sided. No soldier should be charged. It happened 47 years ago, a line in the sand needs to be drawn and people need to move on.
“Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement veterans are being left open to prosecution while terrorists have been cleansed of their past crimes.”
After the announcement that a soldier would face murder and manslaughter charges over Bloody Sunday, Conservative MP and former British Army officer Johnny Mercer tweeted that it was the result of “an abject failure to govern and legislate, on our watch as a Conservative administration”.
The British Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Clearly, we are indebted to those who served with courage and distinction to bring peace to Northern Ireland.
“The welfare of our former service personnel is of the utmost importance and we will offer full legal and pastoral support to anyone affected by today’s decision.
“We recognise the suffering of anyone who lost loved ones during the Troubles. As this is now an ongoing legal matter, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Additional reporting by Digital Desk and PA
