Peter Barry
Question:80 Mr. Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will seek from the British Prime Minister, Mr. John Major, a declaration establishing the innocence of those killed on Bloody Sunday.
Written Answers. - Declaration Re. Bloody Sunday.
John Bruton
Question:81 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the wish of the relatives of the victims of Bloody Sunday that the victims be declared innocent has been raised with the British Prime Minister, Mr. John Major.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Major, stated in December 1992 that those who were killed on Bloody Sunday should be regarded as innocent of any allegation that they were shot whilst handling firearms or explosives. Following a meeting which I had with John Hume and a delegation of relatives of the victims of Bloody Sunday on 16 February of this year, I raised the issue again with the British Government, through the mechanisms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. In doing so, I indicated that I would welcome any further steps which they could take to meet the legitimate concerns of the families, in particular their desire for a comprehensive and unequivocal statement that the victims were totally innocent, that they were engaged in peaceful protest and that they were not involved in violence.