Families of those killed on Bloody Sunday in Derry are considering a legal challenge to the scaling back of a murder inquiry into the shootings.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was one of the 14 people shot dead by British paratroopers on 30 January, 1972, said legal action into the decision to scale back the “live murder inquiry” was something the families of the victims were considering.
Mr Kelly was speaking after the PSNI confirmed it was losing the majority of detectives involved in the case due to budget cuts of £51.4 million.
Mr Kelly said he was concerned the decision was “politically motivated” within the “higher echolons” of the British Government given the fact police interviews with soldiers, due to begin on Monday next, would not now take place.
The families are due to meet the man leading the murder inquiry, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Harrison, within days.
Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney said his party shared the concerns of the families.
Stating the murder inquiry should not be scaled down, Mr McCartney called on the PSNI to ensure it was “properly resourced” so that the families could get justice “at long last.”
He added: “Access to justice should not come with a price tag.
“Sinn Féin will continue to support the Bloody Sunday families in their campaign for truth and justice.”
The news of the scaling back of the investigation follows the revelation that it was costing the PSNI £40,000 a night to police a loyalist “protest camp” in North Belfast.
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