Heath and Carrington in bid to avoid Saville Inquiry
Former British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath and ex-Foreign Minister Lord Carrington have launched a bid to give evidence to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in London because they claim their lives are in danger, it emerged today.
Lawyers acting on behalf of the veteran Conservatives have claimed in an application to the tribunal that their lives could be put at risk if they have to travel to Derry.
With the inquiry due to move to London in September, the lawyers have also argued the two men should be allowed to take the witness stand there because of their ages - Sir Edward will be 86 and Lord Carrington will be 83 when they have to testify.
While no medical condition prevents them travelling, lawyers argue that on common sense and humanitarian grounds both men would be placed under severe strain if they had to travel to Northern Ireland.
No specifics on the terrorist threat have been given to the inquiry.
However lawyers have said were there to be an attack on Sir Edward and Lord Carrington, age would limit the ability of both men to escape.
Police witnesses and soldiers who have succeeded in legal bids to retain their anonymity have claimed they could be targeted by republicans if identified.
Relatives of the 13 people killed on Bloody Sunday have, however, dismissed these claims, arguing no terror group would dare target witnesses at the Saville Inquiry.
Sir Edward and Lord Carrington will be expected to come under rigorous cross examination from lawyers acting on behalf of the families when they take the witness stand.
Families have long argued that authorisation for the Bloody Sunday killings came from the highest possible level in British government.
