Saville Inquiry key facts
Related Articles
Established in 1998, Lord Saville's re-examination of the events of Bloody Sunday is the longest and most expensive public inquiry in British history.
Here are some key facts and figures about the investigation:
- Team: chaired by Lord Mark Saville of Newdigate alongside judges William Hoyt, from Canada, and Australian John Toohey;
- Locations: Guildhall, Derry and Central Hall at Westminster in London (in 2001 the Court of Appeal ruled that military witnesses did not have to travel to the North in case their safety was put at risk);
- Cost: £190.3m (€229.6m) (as of February 2010);
- Witnesses: the inquiry interviewed and received statements from around 2,500 people and 922 of these were called to give oral evidence. They comprised: 505 civilians, nine experts and forensic scientists, 49 members of the media (including photographers), 245 military, 35 paramilitary or former paramilitaries, 39 politicians and civil servants (including intelligence officers), seven priests, 33 Royal Ulster Constabulary officers;
- Evidence: 160 volumes of data with an estimated 30 million words. This included 13 volumes of photographs, 121 audiotapes, 10 videotapes;
- Timeframe: The opening statement from Lord Saville was made on April 3 1998.
Oral hearings commenced on March 27 2000. The first witness to give oral evidence was heard on November 28 2000 and the final one in January 2005;
- Publication due: June 15 2010.
Press Association
