Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has again called on Tony Blair to order a new inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings.

He spoke as he laid a wreath at the memorial to the tragedy in Londonderry.

He was flanked by nationalist political leaders from Northern Ireland as he met families of those who were killed 26 years ago.

The Irish premier (left) and SDLP leader John Hume

Mr Ahern stood for a few moments in silence in front of the memorial in the Catholic Bogside which bears the names of the 14 civilians who were shot dead by paratroopers in January 1972.

"I have to state my view once again that on the analysis we have presented to the British Government what is required is a full independent inquiry so that these issues can be laid to rest once and for all," Mr Ahern told reporters.

"I don't want to make the issue difficult for anybody. All that I want to see is that the truth, the real facts of that particular day are made known."

Bertie Ahern: "All I want to see is that the real facts of that day are made known"

Mr Ahern said he was hopeful that there would soon be movement on the issue.

He was speaking after a series of meetings with local politicians and relatives of those who died on Bloody Sunday.

The Irish premier was accompanied to the monument by the SDLP leader John Hume and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness.

Mr Ahern said he wanted to acknowledge the amount of attention Tony Blair had given the issue. He added that it would undoubtedly be a boost for the peace process if a full inquiry was put in place.
 

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