Pessimism over Saville inquiry

Many of the victims were shot near these flats

To Bloody Sunday survivors and relatives, the Saville inquiry should be everything they believe the Widgery inquiry was not - independent, impartial and thorough.

But those affected by events on 30 January 1972 are sceptical about its power and independence.

Joe Friel was shot in the chest on Bloody Sunday. He was 20 years' old.

Mr Friel said that giving evidence to the new inquiry would only serve to bring back memories of that day.

Joe Friel: Stress

"It's going to be very traumatic. I just hope I can keep going.

"The stress is going to be horrendous and I'm not looking forward to it.

"It's still fresh in my mind, even though it happened so many years ago.

"I'm dreading it. I've got nothing to fear, but I'm dreading it."

Angela Hegarty, an academic lawyer at the University of Ulster and a member of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said many people due to give evidence would find the experience distressing.

The trauma has been locked up and now it's going to be let out: there'll be a wave of emotion

Angela Hegarty

"This inquiry is going to be very traumatic, not just for the families affected, but for the witnesses of the shootings.

"It's not a case of opening old wounds - those wounds have never been closed.

"Some people have never spoken about it since, so the trauma has been locked up and now it's going to be let out: there'll be a wave of emotion."

Anonymity doubts

John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, said that the anonymity ruling for British soldiers involved as evidence that the inquiry will not be held on a level playing field.

John Kelly: Anger

"Even Tony Blair supports the anonymity ruling. But that's the government interfering, that's not impartial.

"The army has been granted everything from the outset."

Angela Hegarty added: "The prime minister's office has interfered too much. If you set up a tribunal, you should leave it alone and you certainly shouldn't send out a press release welcoming a court's ruling of anonymity for the soldiers involved.

"I can't help wondering how much independence the inquiry has got."

Joe Friel was also sceptical.

"We wanted an independent inquiry and we haven't got it.

"I'll be highly surprised if the word 'murder' is used by Saville. My confidence in him is eroding by the minute."

'Destroyed trust'

Notice on Bloody Sunday memorial calls for justice

News that the Ministry of Defence had destroyed guns used by paratroopers did little to allay nationalist concerns in Derry that the inquiry would not be impartial.

John Kelly said: "We're angry at the destruction of these weapons."

But he has vowed to go on fighting, for the sake of his brother and the others killed.

"We'll keep going if we don't get justice. Even if one victim has a speck of doubt on him, we'll go on until we get justice. We're not going to stop."