Bloody Sunday report to be published in three weeks

In a written Ministerial Statement he said: "I am pleased to inform the House that the report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, chaired by Lord Saville, will be published on Tuesday 15 June.

"I know that publication of this report has been long-awaited by many people, and I am determined to ensure that the arrangements for publication are fair to all those involved.

"My Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister will make a statement to this House at the time when the report is published. With the permission of the Speaker, I confirm that I will allow an opportunity for members of the families of those who died or were injured on the day, and for the soldiers most directly involved, to see the report privately and be briefed by their lawyers on it, some hours before the report is published.

"Some Members of this House will similarly have an opportunity to see the report in advance of publication, to enable them to respond to the statement made to this House at the time of publication. In addition, there will be a full day's debate on the report of the Inquiry in the autumn."

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan welcomed the announcement stating: "I welcome confirmation of the date of publication of the Saville report and the parliamentary statement marking this.

"The deep feelings and needs of the families of those murdered and the injured need to be properly respected at this time.

"As those most affected cope with the mixed emotions of the next few weeks politicians should spare them partisan speculation about the report and insensitive denigration of the inquiry process.

"I want to welcome the fact that the Secretary of State Owen Paterson will be meeting directly with family representatives to confirm the arrangements for them on the day of the publication.

"I also want to acknowledge the consideration which the previous Secretary of State Shaun Woodward afforded to the families in preparations for publication.

"The Saville report will not just be of great import to the families of the dead and injured on Bloody Sunday but also for the whole city of Derry and the wider country."

Sinn Fin deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "The families of those murdered on Bloody Sunday have fought a long and difficult campaign for the truth about the events in Derry 38 years ago.

"I welcome the fact that the British government have now announced that the Saville Report will be given to the families and published on June 15th.

"The lies of Widgery need to be exposed and buried and the truth of what happened when the British parachute regiment came to Derry and murdered 14 people on our street needs to be told."