British government would not apologise for Bloody Sunday over liability
The British government would not apologise over Bloody Sunday as it would mean accepting liability, confidential documents have revealed.
The incident in January 1972 saw members of the Parachute Regiment shoot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of Derry.
Papers from the Irish government have now detailed a conversation between then-Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew and Ireland’s deputy prime minister Dick Spring, held in London in February 1997.
During the three hours of talks at Lancaster House, the British secretary of state said his government – led by Conservative Prime Minister John Major – might not have a problem expressing “profound regret” for what happened, but apologising for it would be to “accept liability”, which “could not be justified” on the “available evidence”.
Sir Patrick also said there was “not much prospect” of Lord Widgery’s findings into Bloody Sunday – a widely criticised report in 1972 that exonerated the soldiers – being overturned.
Michael Ancram (right) was unhappy about remarks Sir Patrick (centre) made to Mr Spring (left) about Bloody Sunday
The memo from an Irish official said the discussion was wide-ranging and mostly focused on negotiations and the peace process, but Sir Patrick brought up the incident, describing it as “an absolute disaster”.
The official noted that he made the remark “much to the discomfort” of Northern Ireland minister Michael Ancram, who suggested that “tragedy” might be a better description, but Sir Patrick stood by his assessment.
Irish deputy Mr Spring told him Bloody Sunday was a “very sensitive issue” that he wanted “closed in a dignified way”. But he said new evidence was emerging and questioned whether the British government could respond without establishing a new inquiry.
Sir Patrick told him he wanted justice for both sides – the families of the bereaved and the soldiers. However, he claimed not to have seen any of the reported new evidence, with an Irish official noting that he did not appear to be overly impressed by what he had heard of it.
“Nevertheless, he noted that the process of criminal prosecution could be activated in response to convincing new evidence,” the Irish official said.
A new inquiry was held by Lord Saville and concluded in 2010, finding no justification for shooting any of those killed or wounded. Afterwards, David Cameron issued a public apology, saying the killings were “unjustified and unjustifiable”.
Trimble’s ‘resentful complex’
A number of other Irish state records from the 1990s have also been published, including criticism of former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble by the Irish ambassador to the US.
Dermot Gallagher said the late Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was instrumental in the Good Friday Agreement and later became first minister in Northern Ireland, had “a resentful complex” towards the Republic of Ireland and had “little vision of the kind of leadership that is urgently required at this time in Northern Ireland”.
David Trimble was the former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
Another document showed the Irish government’s fears of loyalists bombings in the country after the IRA ceasefire ended in 1996, detailing a meeting that took place soon after the London Docklands bombing in February 1996 that killed two people and injured more than 100 others.
And another revealed the then-Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern had called for the use of rubber bullets to be discontinued in his country, saying he hoped it would put pressure on the British government to reduce their use in Northern Ireland.
Former Irish PM Bertie Ahern
One of the stranger records to be published covered a call between an Irish official and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was then deputy editor of the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Johnson urged the Irish government to take a “hard egg” approach to the Northern Ireland peace process and “let the nationalists go to hell”, adding: “Let them use the bomb and the bullet, we shouldn’t give in and we will beat them eventually.”
The official, who described the conversation as being “slightly surreal”, said he “pointed out” that a hard egg approach “can only lead to broken heads”, and that “the priority now has to be to minimise the chances of another act of violence”.
The 19-year-old woman who died after she was attacked by a dog at a flat in Bristol on Wednesday has been named as Morgan Dorsett from Shropshire.
Two people – a man and a woman both aged in their 20s – have been arrested over the attack and have been released on conditional bail.
Initial reports suggested the dog may be an XL bully, but confirming the breed will form part of the police assessment process, according to Avon and Somerset Police.
It was sedated and seized by officers.
An XL bully. File pic: PA
Ms Dorsett’s family thanked the public for their support and those who have left flowers near the scene.
Officers were called to an incident in the Hartcliffe area of Bristol at 7.19pm on Wednesday.
Paramedics and police officers attended but Ms Dorsett died at the scene.
Ms Dorsett. Pic: Avon and Somerset Police
On Thursday, Inspector Terry Murphy said: “Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the family of the young woman who’s tragically died as a result of yesterday evening’s incident. They have been updated and will be supported by a family liaison officer.
“I’d also like to thank the officers and paramedics who attended yesterday evening and tried to save her life. Support is in place for them.
“A full investigation is now well under way to establish the full circumstances of the events that led to her death.”
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Flowers left near the scene. Pic: PA
A neighbour also paid tribute to Ms Dorsett, saying she “seemed a lovely girl” and had only lived in the property for a few weeks.
“I was up all night awake trying to process this,” the neighbour, who did not want to be named, said.
“I am shocked. I just can’t believe it’s happened and she hasn’t been there that long.”
The neighbour said she had seen the dog on a lead with its owner and was certain it was an XL bully.
“I do feel so sad for the dog owner,” she said.
“She did mention the dog wasn’t great with men, fine with women and children.
“I feel for her so, so much. It wasn’t her fault.”
She added: “I genuinely feel that this was one of those freak accidents and wasn’t her fault – that’s how I feel.”
In February 2024 it became a criminal offence to own the XL bully breed in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.
Anyone owning one of the dogs must have had the animal neutered, microchipped, and kept muzzled and on a lead in public, among other restrictions.
The government move to ban the breed followed a series of attacks on people and other dogs.
UK
Bargain Hunt auctioneer Charles Hanson cleared of coercive control and assault allegations related to his wife
Bargain Hunt auctioneer Charles Hanson has been cleared of coercive control and assault allegations relating to his wife.
The 46-year-old was accused of being violent towards Rebecca Hanson over an eight-year period.
The charges were brought after he was arrested in June 2023.
The TV auctioneer, from Mackworth, Derby, denied controlling or coercive behaviour spanning from 2015 to 2023, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and assault by beating. The two assault charges related to incidents in 2015 and 2023.
During the trial, Hanson claimed his wife had controlled him. He told the court he was “almost a slave” to her, saying she left him “a beaten and broken man” by controlling him and making him subservient towards her.
She had claimed her husband was violent towards her and put her in a headlock in 2012, while she pregnant with a baby she later lost.
Mrs Hanson also alleged her husband repeatedly “grabbed” her, scratched her as she tried to snatch a mobile phone and pushed her twice during a row.
Hanson outside the court with his parents today. Pic: PA
The auctioneer told the court his wife was allowed “to do what she wanted” but had experienced “moments and episodes” including one which saw her claim his legs being crossed amounted to abuse.
Jurors deliberated for around four and a half hours before delivering not guilty verdicts on all charges.
As the verdicts were returned, Hanson smiled at his parents, who were sat in the front row of the public gallery at Derby Crown Court, and gave them a thumbs-up.
After thanking the jurors for their care in considering the case, Judge Martin Hurst told Hanson: “You have been found not guilty. That is the end of the case. You will hear no more about it and you are free to go.”
The TV star’s parents wept and hugged their son after he was discharged from the dock.
Hanson ‘relieved this is all over’
Hanson speaks to media after the verdict. Pic: PA
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Hanson said: “I’m delighted that after a year and a half the truth has finally come out.
“I can finally live my life again. I feel this burden has finally been lifted.”
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“It has been a tormentuous time and all I want now is to readjust to what has been such an ordeal,” he continued. “I am so relieved that this is all over.”
As well as regularly featuring on Bargain Hunt, Hanson has appeared on Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip.
A self-described “monster” who beat a top chef to death near Notting Hill Carnival has been jailed for life.
Omar Wilson repeatedly punched and kicked Mussie Imnetu during an altercation outside a restaurant in Queensway, west London, on 26 August last year.
Wilson, 31, then left the scene to go clubbing.
Mr Imnetu, 41, who worked under star chefs Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, died in hospital four days later, without regaining consciousness.
Mussie Imnetu. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Sentencing Wilson to a minimum 18 years, Judge Philip Katz said Mr Imnetu’s “brutal” killing was “abhorrent”.
“Mussie and those who loved him are the victims in this case and the impact on them of his murder has been severe,” he said.
“Mussie was defenceless on the ground when you punched and kicked him to death.”
He continued: “You could not control your temper. Only a few seconds after punches were aimed by both of you you tripped Mussie and he fell to the ground and you could have walked away.
“As he knelt you rained further punches down on his head. You could have walked away.
“However, you stood up, raised your leg and kicked him hard to the head. Kicking someone to the head when they are defenceless on the ground is abhorrent.”
CCTV footage of Omar Wilson at a security point after the assault. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Mr Imnetu’s wife, Linda, described her husband as “respected, admired and loved” in a pre-recorded victim impact statement played in court.
“Mussie didn’t just leave behind a legacy for his family, he left an indelible mark on his workplace and community,” she said.
“Nothing can undo what has been taken from us. I ask the court to remember the man Mussie was: his character, his integrity and the life he built; not just the circumstances of his passing.”
An audio recording of Mr Imnetu’s six-year-old son wishing his “daddy” goodbye was also played in court, which the judge called “heart-rending”.
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CCTV footage was played in court during the trial showing Wilson approaching Mr Imnetu and headbutting him.
Around a minute later, Wilson punched Mr Imnetu five times in the head, continued to repeatedly punch him while he was on his hands and knees, and then kicked him in the head.
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Wilson of Napier Road, east London, told the Old Bailey he was acting in self defence, telling jurors: “I just regret that somebody’s life was taken while I was trying to defend mine.”
He claimed Mr Imnetu had a broken bottle – something Judge Katz described as “a deliberate lie”.
The court heard after the attack that Wilson had told an associate he “crossed the line”.
In a message, he said: “There’s a monster in me, man, and it’s just like sometimes it comes out.
“And I think I’ve messed up now, I’ve messed up, everything’s finished.”
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