A paratroop commander who could not travel to Derry to give evidence to the Saville Inquiry because of safety fears has attended a function in north Donegal.
Colonel Derek Wilford visited north Donegal on Monday at the invitation of the Society of St Patrick, an organisation established by Donegal officers in the British army during World War I.
Colonel Wilford – who led para- troopers into Derry's Bogside on Bloody Sunday – gave evidence to the Saville Inquiry in London rather than Derry after former soldiers claimed their personal safety would be compromised if forced to come to Derry.
Last night (May 1), the brother of one of the Bloody Sunday dead said Colonel Wiliford should not be welcomed in any part of Ireland.
John Kelly, a brother of Michael Kelly who was shot dead on Bloody Sunday said: "This is an insult to those who died and were injured; it is an insult to the people of Derry and Donegal."
He said the fact that Colonel Wilford could visit an area so close to Derry showed the hypocrisy of claims that soldiers felt their lives would be at risk if they had to give evidence to the Saville Inquiry in Derry.
Secretary of the Society of St Patrick, Dr Hugh MacDermott denied the invitation to Colonel Wilford was an insult to the memories of those who died on Bloody Sunday and claimed Colonel Wilford was joined at the AGM by "two Fianna Fail ministers."
However, this was yesterday denied by Fianna Fail. A spokeswoman said the party was not aware of any members attending such a gathering.
Established in the trenches of France in 1917, the Society of St Patrick became a "gentleman's club" which met twice annually for dinner in London and Dublin after the war.
It was ressurected by Dr Mac Dermott some years ago and now has around 220 members.
Dr MacDermott said "aristocratic" and military figures from the North and from England regularly attended society events. He also revealed that Tory Party leader, Ian Duncan Smith visited Donegal at the invitation of the organisation late last year.
