Vol. 516 No. 5
72 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations, if any, he has made to the British Government on the destruction by the British Ministry of Defence of rifles which constituted vital evidence for the Bloody Sunday inquiry. [8396/00]
150 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the communication, if any, he has received from the Bloody Sunday relatives committee; the communication, if any, made to the Saville inquiry or the British Prime Minister following the destruction of rifles used by the British army in the Bloody Sunday killings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5812/00]
152 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any member of his Department's staff is liaising with, monitoring the work of, or attending public hearings of, the Saville inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7005/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 150 and 152 together.
The Government welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, on 29 January 1998 of the establishment of a new, independent, judicial tribunal of inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday. The tribunal is beginning its public oral hearings in the Guildhall in Derry on 27 March next. This will be an important step forward in the task of fully and finally establishing the truth about that tragic day.
The Government understands that, of the 29 rifles fired by troops on Bloody Sunday, 16 have been destroyed in total and 10 have been sold through private companies. A police investigation has begun into the destruction of the weapons.
The Government has conveyed to the British authorities its deep concern about these developments. It has been informed that efforts are being made to locate the ten rifles that were sold off. It has also sought an assurance that the remaining three rifles in the possession of the British Ministry of Defence have been secured. The Government will continue to monitor developments closely in this regard.
