Relatives of those killed on Bloody Sunday have welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement of a fresh judicial inquiry into the killings.

And they called for Edward Heath, British Prime Minister at the time of the shootings in 1972, to give evidence at the hearings.

Soldiers on duty in 1972

The families said the original Widgery Report, which exonerated paratroopers who shot and killed 14 Catholics following a march in Londonderry, was now "dead".

The new inquiry could lead to a fresh start for British-Irish relations, they added.

A spokesman told a Londonderry news conference: "We are not after vengeance or retribution. Everyone will benefit from the truth whether republican, nationalist, British or Irish.

"We think it will improve relations between the two islands."

A statement added: "The relatives welcome the historic decision to set aside the Widgery Report and establish a new inquiry.

"The historic nature of these developments is not lost on the relatives.

"We clearly hope that it will have the potential to establish the truth of what happened that day and begin the inevitable healing process and closure."

One of the relatives, Tony Doherty, said Mr Heath clearly had a case to answer.

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