Illness delays evidence to Bloody Sunday Inquiry
The leader of the Official IRA on Bloody Sunday has pulled out of giving evidence to the Saville Inquiry because of illness.
John White, who was expected to give evidence at the Guildhall in Derry on Monday has been ill for the past few weeks.
The tribunal is resuming for two days to hear the closing speech by the counsel to the inquiry, Christopher Clarke QC.
Mr White was expected to say that the only shot fired by the Official IRA in the Bogside on Bloody Sunday was 15 minutes before the British army moved in.
He would have said that the shot was fired after one of the victims Jackie Duddy was shot dead at Rossville Flats.
The inquiry, which is expected to produce its final report next summer, is examining the events of January 30, 1972 when 13 unarmed civilians were shot dead by members of the Parachute Regiment.
Mr Clarke’s closing statement is a brief summary of eight to 10 large volumes of written material collated after more than four years of evidence gathering.
He will present an overview of the issues for the tribunal to decide, putting forward a range of conclusions he feels can be made from the supporting evidence.
The inquiry panel chaired by Lord Saville will then sit down to reach their own conclusions and write the final report.
The tribunal began taking evidence in March 2000, hearing oral evidence from 921 witnesses.
