Congressman Richard Neal has released a statement on the trial of “Soldier F,” who has been charged for his alleged role in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry
Said Neal: “My deep interest in the politics on the island of Ireland was galvanized at an early age by the tragic events that took place in the Bogside of Derry on January 30, 1972, now known as Bloody Sunday.
"I strongly believed that the actions taken by the British soldiers on that day were wrong and unconscionable, and the subsequent report by the British government was a concerted effort to conceal the truth about what really happened when fourteen unarmed civilians were killed in a peaceful civil rights march.
“As a leader of the Friends of Ireland Caucus in the United States House of Representatives, I have spent many years calling on the British government to establish a new and independent inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday so that the families of the victims could find truth and accountability nearly a half-century after the needless murders. Having met personally with the Bloody Sunday families, in both the U.S. and Ireland, I was pleased to support their campaign for justice.
“In 2010, when British Prime Minister David Cameron issued an extraordinary apology to the families of the victims for the ‘unjustified and unjustifiable’ conduct of the British soldiers, it was a long-awaited moment of vindication for the people of Derry.
"I paid tribute to Prime Minister Cameron on that day for his commitment to publishing the Saville Report and called his remarks an unprecedented act of reconciliation. And while his powerful statement brought a momentary sense of healing, it did not bring the permanent closure sought by the victims' families.
“The remarkable resilience of the Bloody Sunday families and supporters was on display again earlier this week in Belfast, where they continued to seek justice for the innocent and unarmed victims killed in 1972.
"I have stood with these families for decades during their courageous search for truth and accountability, and I will continue to do so. I also believe they are on the right side of history.
"As the Good Friday Agreement continues to be implemented in its entirety, resolution of historic cases like Bloody Sunday needs to be complete.”
