The Inquiry concluded (as reported by the Telegraph) that:

"Despite the contrary evidence given by soldiers, we have concluded that none of them fired in response to attacks or threatened attacks by nail or petrol bombers." The report added that no one threw, or threatened to throw, nail or petrol bombs at soldiers;

The explanations given by soldiers were rejected, with a number said to have "knowingly put forward false accounts"

Members of the so-called Official IRA fired a shot at troops, but missed their target, though crucially it was concluded it was the paratroopers who shot first on Bloody Sunday;

..The firing by soldiers of 1 Para caused the deaths of 13 people and injury to a similar number, none of whom was posing a threat of causing death or serious injury." This also applied to the 14th victim, who died later from injuries. The report added: "We found no instances where it appeared to us that soldiers either were or might have been justified in firing";

And, yes, McGuinness had blood on his hands in relation to the Troubles,as did Paisley and as do the army for Bloody Sunday.

Edited by legaleagle (26 Mar 2017 8.52pm)

The Inquiry concluded (as reported by the Telegraph) that:

"Despite the contrary evidence given by soldiers, we have concluded that none of them fired in response to attacks or threatened attacks by nail or petrol bombers." The report added that no one threw, or threatened to throw, nail or petrol bombs at soldiers;

The explanations given by soldiers were rejected, with a number said to have "knowingly put forward false accounts"

Members of the so-called Official IRA fired a shot at troops, but missed their target, though crucially it was concluded it was the paratroopers who shot first on Bloody Sunday;

..The firing by soldiers of 1 Para caused the deaths of 13 people and injury to a similar number, none of whom was posing a threat of causing death or serious injury." This also applied to the 14th victim, who died later from injuries. The report added: "We found no instances where it appeared to us that soldiers either were or might have been justified in firing";

And, yes, McGuinness had blood on his hands in relation to the Troubles,as did Paisley and as do the army for Bloody Sunday.

Edited by legaleagle (26 Mar 2017 8.52pm)

The man upped the ante hugely between 1968-1972 and was a key player in setting the stage for the paramilitary bloodbath that unfolded..

Boy, such bitterness me thinks.

Its precisely the ability (and desirability where appropriate)of being able to criticise our leaders and military etc that sets us apart from totalitarian regimes....another of those traditional British values (like an independent judiciary) little Englanders tend to bang on about in theory but complain about in practice.

Bloody Sunday (like Amritsar 1919,the Croke Park massacre,1920, Athens 1944 and Batang Kali 1948,as examples of other other instances ) was bad and plain wrong.The day our military (notwithstanding some of the great things it has done) are immune from legitimate criticism is the day our traditional values fly out of the window..

Edited by legaleagle (26 Mar 2017 10.09pm)

I don't think anyone engaged in activity that justified the army's response. What happened was awful and unecessary but several witnesses claim to have seen him with a machine gun. Enough for the judge to think it was likely. However I am sure that happens on any peaceful demo.

The IRA played their hand very well, the army didn't. Not helped by the fact that it was the Paras on the streets, a great highly trained and highly aggressive fighting force, unfortunately not what was required on the day.

As for blood on his hands, because he wasn't prosecuted you think that makes him in the clear? Given the reputation for IRA discipline how can you explain the self proclaimed 2ic of the Belfast Brigade not having blood on his hands?

He was remember a convicted member, for carrying a bomb. What do you think that was for? Fishing for pike?

Edited by Y Ddraig Goch (26 Mar 2017 8.45pm)

Would that render the Union Jack obsolete.

That would upset a few Brexiters if that was an unintended consequence of voting leave.