Red Eye (opening message): So far the enquiry is reputed to have cost £52 million, not 200.

The films are made independent of the enquiry and of each other. How many films have been made about WWII; does anyone say we should forget about it? In the N Ireland context, we've had two films about the hunger strikes (plus some stage plays) and one about the Birmingham Six; surely Bloody Sunday is as important an issue. (I would not object to the making of films about Warrenpoint, Enniskillen, Omagh -- I might be critical of whatever bias is taken or how the subject matter is covered, but not of it being presented in the first place). I've seen the two tv docu-drama films on Bloody Sunday and I do recommend you watch them if you get the opportunity. Bloody Sunday was on UTV and Irish TV3 Sun night 20 Jan; I don't know about other ITV stations. "Sunday" will be on UK channel 4 Mon 28 Jan.

I live in Derry (but I first came here the year after Bloody Sunday). Although I would have thought everybody knows about what happened, young actors who participated in the films have said that they learned a lot about the event through their involvement - that they did not know much before hand. And although I think most people do now accept that the British Army fired the first shots and that the people who were shot (14 died and 13 others were injured) were unarmed, this is not the official record. The relatives are not satisfied that the Widgery tribunal has not been formally repudiated. As Kevin McGrath pointed out in another Mudcat Bloody Sunday thread a year ago, it is as important to investigate the Widgery cover-up as it is to investigate the actual deeds. The failure of truth and justice in the enquiry 30 years ago led only to increased support for paramilitaries.

Gareth, I don't think you can make such a direct comparison with the IRA. We expect government agents to act within the law. As for the IRA, the organisation has been held responsible for its actions, whether or not individuals have been found guilty for particular deeds. There has been no public exoneration of any paramilitary shootings or bombings, let alone medals awarded. (The early release dates of prisoners conditional on observance of ceasefire is NOT a finding of "not guilty"). In relation to the Bloody Sunday enquiry, there has been pressure put on past members of both the Official and Republican IRA to give evidence. Some have agreed to do so, including Martin McGuinness, who says he was 2nd in command of Provisionals in Derry at the time.

By the way, last Friday the Trade Unions organised large rallies in Belfast, Omagh, Enniskillen, Derry,etc. protesting sectarian intimidation of public sector workers after a Catholic postman was shot and Catholic teachers were threatened in North Belfast. The rallies enjoyed wide support, even from employers and government bodies. The Loyalist threats have been withdrawn - in principle; we shall see what happens in practice. I was surprised that no-one started a Mudcat thread on the issue. I don't often participate in non-music threads, but I noticed there was one about British Prince Harry's underage drinking and I didn't come across any about our peace rallies.