The only lesson taken by the British army from Bloody Sunday was that it should not have used vehicles in mounting an arrest operation.
The authors of the army analysis of its actions in Northern Ireland do not go into detail about the killings in Derry, which are widely accepted to have been a catalyst for the most serious violence of the Troubles over the following years.
Thirteen civilians were shot dead and a 14th died later when the Parachute Regiment opened fire on an anti-internment march on January 30 1972.
Over the next three months, Lord Widgery, the lord chief justice of England and Wales, conducted an inquiry which concluded that blame lay with organisers or the march and with a few exceptions exonerated the soldiers of any guilt, claiming there was evidence some of the dead may have handled guns.
In 2000 a new inquiry under Lord Saville of Newdigate was finally established.
Despite this, the British army's report makes no reference to Saville. Neither does it conclude, as many strongly believe, that it was wrong to send a crack frontline regiment to deal with a civilian protest march.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael (17) was one of those killed, said he was shocked at the lack of value placed on the life of his brother and the other victims.
"They said the biggest lesson was the use of vehicles; they are not taking into account the loss of human life," he said.
"The deaths on Bloody Sunday were totally immaterial; it is clear the people of Derry do not count to the British army."
