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06/03/2003
Orde apologises to Bloody Sunday families
Following the publication of controversial comments attributed to the PSNI chief constable on the Saville Inquiry, Hugh Orde has met with families of those killed on Bloody Sunday for what he described as a "sensible and interesting debate".
Mr Orde stopped short of offering a full public apology but he did privately apologise for any grief the comments may have caused.
According to the Financial Times on February 19, Mr Orde was quoted as saying that the latest Bloody Sunday inquiry was a "waste of money".
He has since received widespread criticism over the article, and SDLP leader Mark Durkan slammed the chief constable for what he described as his "insensitivity and ignorance" towards Bloody Sunday victims.
However, Hugh Orde hit back today after his meeting with families of the victims saying that the suggestion that the Saville Inquiry was a "waste of money" was a "journalistic quote and not a quote from me".
He said the families were a "very dignified group of people who let me know exactly what they felt about the issue around the inquiry".
Mr Orde added: "They gave me the opportunity to explain what I had said and they gave me the opportunity to say I had no intention of causing any hurt to that group or anyone else who is involved in the inquiry. So it was a very useful meeting."
The chief constable explained that he had in fact been referring to the policing aspect of retrospective investigations.
"I have limited resources and I have to prevent future crime, investigate current crimes and I am coming under increasing pressure to investigate historic crimes. That was the purpose of the debate," he said.
"I know as an investigator that the older the case the more difficult it is to reach an evidential standard."
A sister of one of the Bloody Sunday victims, Kay Duddy, said: "He didn't apologise for the statement but he apologised for being misrepresented in the papers. And he apologised for any hurt that he may have caused.
"I feel that he is genuine enough and hopefully in the future if anything can be done to help us, he will be prepared to do that."
The Bloody Sunday Saville Inquiry was established in 1998 to investigate the circumstances which led to the deaths of 14 people in Londonderry on January 30 1972.
The final cost of the tribunal, led by Lord Saville of Newdigate, could rest around the £150 million mark. The inquiry's conclusions are not expected until next year.
(GMcG)
Mr Orde stopped short of offering a full public apology but he did privately apologise for any grief the comments may have caused.
According to the Financial Times on February 19, Mr Orde was quoted as saying that the latest Bloody Sunday inquiry was a "waste of money".
He has since received widespread criticism over the article, and SDLP leader Mark Durkan slammed the chief constable for what he described as his "insensitivity and ignorance" towards Bloody Sunday victims.
However, Hugh Orde hit back today after his meeting with families of the victims saying that the suggestion that the Saville Inquiry was a "waste of money" was a "journalistic quote and not a quote from me".
He said the families were a "very dignified group of people who let me know exactly what they felt about the issue around the inquiry".
Mr Orde added: "They gave me the opportunity to explain what I had said and they gave me the opportunity to say I had no intention of causing any hurt to that group or anyone else who is involved in the inquiry. So it was a very useful meeting."
The chief constable explained that he had in fact been referring to the policing aspect of retrospective investigations.
"I have limited resources and I have to prevent future crime, investigate current crimes and I am coming under increasing pressure to investigate historic crimes. That was the purpose of the debate," he said.
"I know as an investigator that the older the case the more difficult it is to reach an evidential standard."
A sister of one of the Bloody Sunday victims, Kay Duddy, said: "He didn't apologise for the statement but he apologised for being misrepresented in the papers. And he apologised for any hurt that he may have caused.
"I feel that he is genuine enough and hopefully in the future if anything can be done to help us, he will be prepared to do that."
The Bloody Sunday Saville Inquiry was established in 1998 to investigate the circumstances which led to the deaths of 14 people in Londonderry on January 30 1972.
The final cost of the tribunal, led by Lord Saville of Newdigate, could rest around the £150 million mark. The inquiry's conclusions are not expected until next year.
(GMcG)
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18 February 2003
Orde describes Bloody Sunday Inquiry as 'waste of money'
PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has described the latest Bloody Sunday tribunal as a "waste of money". Mr Orde, who made his comments in Tuesday's edition of the Financial Times, also claimed that the Saville Inquiry into the deaths of 14 civilians in 1972 was unlikely to satisfy the families or any of the other groups involved.
Orde describes Bloody Sunday Inquiry as 'waste of money'
PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has described the latest Bloody Sunday tribunal as a "waste of money". Mr Orde, who made his comments in Tuesday's edition of the Financial Times, also claimed that the Saville Inquiry into the deaths of 14 civilians in 1972 was unlikely to satisfy the families or any of the other groups involved.
19 February 2003
Orde defends his Bloody Sunday comments
PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has come out in defence of remarks he made in yesterday's Financial Times newspaper when he claimed that the latest Bloody Sunday Inquiry was a "waste of money".
Orde defends his Bloody Sunday comments
PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has come out in defence of remarks he made in yesterday's Financial Times newspaper when he claimed that the latest Bloody Sunday Inquiry was a "waste of money".
24 September 2002
Bloody Sunday Inquiry moves to London
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry has moved to London to hear evidence from former British soldiers who were serving in Northern Ireland on the day 13 civilians were shot dead in Londonderry. About 300 military witnesses are expected to testify at the inquiry in Westminster.
Bloody Sunday Inquiry moves to London
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry has moved to London to hear evidence from former British soldiers who were serving in Northern Ireland on the day 13 civilians were shot dead in Londonderry. About 300 military witnesses are expected to testify at the inquiry in Westminster.
26 March 2002
Bloody Sunday Inquiry cost rises by £20 million
The estimated total cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry to the Northern Ireland Office has risen by £20 million, a Stormont minister has revealed. The Northern Ireland Office spent £56.8 million on the Saville inquiry from 1998 to March 2002 but said they believed the final figure could top £126 million.
Bloody Sunday Inquiry cost rises by £20 million
The estimated total cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry to the Northern Ireland Office has risen by £20 million, a Stormont minister has revealed. The Northern Ireland Office spent £56.8 million on the Saville inquiry from 1998 to March 2002 but said they believed the final figure could top £126 million.
14 March 2002
Kilclooney tells Bloody Sunday inquiry "gunmen" were shot
Former Stormont Minister John Taylor has told the Saville Inquiry that 13 gunmen were shot in Londonderry on Bloody Sunday. He said: "There are those who now say that innocent people were shot, if that is so it is a tragedy." He added that there had been "no question of shooting unarmed civilians".
Kilclooney tells Bloody Sunday inquiry "gunmen" were shot
Former Stormont Minister John Taylor has told the Saville Inquiry that 13 gunmen were shot in Londonderry on Bloody Sunday. He said: "There are those who now say that innocent people were shot, if that is so it is a tragedy." He added that there had been "no question of shooting unarmed civilians".
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
