Newly released State Papers from the Irish archives reveal that the top British soldier in Northern Ireland at the time, General Sir Rupert Smith, accused Tony Blair's government of a 'cynical political move' for establishing a new inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday in 1998. Smith, a former Parachute Regiment officer, expressed his disapproval of the inquiry, which was launched after years of campaigning by the families of the victims who were killed by British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday in Derry.
The top British soldier in Northern Ireland accused Tony Blair 's government of a "cynical political move" for establishing a new inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday , according to newly released State Papers from the Irish archives.
An inquiry led by Lord Chief Justice Lord Widgery shortly after the shootings supported the soldiers' version of events that they were returning fire. Bereaved families dismissed the report as a whitewash and began a campaign for a new inquiry for more than 25 years. General Smith was a former officer in the Parachute Regiment who had served in Northern Ireland, but was not in Derry on Bloody Sunday. He had also been caught in an explosion in Northern Ireland in 1978, suffering 28% burns on his body.
General Smith said that a new inquiry was part of the price to be paid for a comprehensive settlement. However, his "vehement" opinions clearly reflected a belief that politicians were responsible, and were trying to shift the blame onto the military. It was quite extraordinary for such a senior figure to express such views to representatives of another State.
Bloody Sunday Tony Blair Northern Ireland UK Military Inquiry
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