Saville Inquiry costs soar by £35 million
ANGER at the cost of the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday has erupted again after it was revealed the probe has cost a further £35 million since it heard the last witness in 2005.
Secretary of State Shaun Woodward revealed the added costs after a question from DUP MP Gregory Campbell.
The latest costs mean that up until September this year, a staggering 188.7 million of public money has been spent on the Saville Inquiry, which has still not released its report.
Mr Campbell said: "At a time of public concern about stretched government resources, people will be shocked to learn that the Saville Inquiry has cost some 35 million despite not hearing a single witness since January 2005.
"This brings to a total cost of 188.7million for the inquiry into the events of 30th January 1972.
"This is a vast amount of public money. How many hospitals, roads or schools would such a sum pay for?"
The East Londonderry MP said he felt the vast sum may have been spent to no purpose as many people already had their minds made up about what happened on that day in 1972, and no inquiry would change that.
"I have grave concerns at this use of public money. These concerns are heightened by a realisation that no matter what Lord Saville reports his findings will be disputed and unacceptable to at least some in our community.
"To some people who were there on the ground on that fateful day, the Army fired in self-defence when confronted by IRA terrorists.
"To others, they did not.
"Neither side of the argument will be happy with a set of findings that conflicts with their remembrance of events. What then? Another 188 million of public money for another inquiry?"
Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Danny Kennedy said: "The revelation that the Saville Inquiry has cost 35 million since January 2005, without hearing from a single witness, reinforces the call made by Shadow Secretary of State Owen Paterson that future governments should not have any open-ended inquiries.
"What is more sobering is the realisation that after the ridiculous amount of public money spent, few – if any – people believe that reconciliation will have been advanced in any meaningful way by the inquiry.
"Our painful past has produced many innocent victims, and I really must question if inquiries like Saville address their genuine needs."
A spokeswoman for the Saville Inquiry said the costs were incurred because of the sheer size of the probe.
She said that the costs incurred since the end of witness statements were largely made up of retrospective payments to lawyers who represented the families as well as continued payment to tribunal members, legal fees and accommodation and administrative costs.
The NIO refused to comment on the cost of the report.
Lord Saville's report has been delayed several times and is now expected to be released in March next year.
However, the report could face further delay if David Cameron becomes the next Prime Minister, it was claimed last night.
John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael died, said: "There is a great possibility that we will be dealing with a Tory Secretary of State and he will have a look at the report and there's a great possibility we could be sitting here next year waiting for it.
"That is the greatest difficulty and we are very concerned."
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "We have been calling for the report to come out as soon as possible, we want them to report back as soon as possible, we have said that on numerous occasions.
"It (Mr Kelly's comments)is speculating that the Government would release the report and then we might delay it."
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