[https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/colum-eastwood-slams-total-farce-police-investigation-into-bloody-sunday-families-walk/a1625605435.html](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/colum-eastwood-slams-total-farce-police-investigation-into-bloody-sunday-families-walk/a1625605435.html)
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has walked out of a Derry police station saying he will not be partaking any further in an investigation after being asked to attend for interview for alleged participation in an unnotified parade.
It is understood police are investigating an event which saw members of the Bloody Sunday families walking together to a courthouse in the city for a hearing in relation to the prosecution of Soldier F.
It was announced on Thursday a former British soldier will stand trial for two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday. It is widely regarded as one of the darkest days of the Troubles.
Among the charges, Soldier F is accused of murdering William McKinney and James Wray in Londonderry on 30 January 1972.
Thirteen people were shot dead and at least 15 others injured when members of the Army’s Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside more than 51 years ago.
Emerging from the Strand Road PSNI station, the politician told PA he had waited for 20 minutes but had not been interviewed and branded the situation as a “total and utter farce”.
He said: “I was asked to attend an interview with the PSNI because I walked alongside members of the Bloody Sunday families to the Derry courthouse at a hearing for Soldier F.”
Ciaran Shiels, a lawyer who represents the Bloody Sunday families, said they have also been asked to attend.
Mr Eastwood said: “I agreed to come but for one reason only: I was going to be very clear with the police that no member of the Bloody Sunday families will be attending to take part in this farce.”
In a statement, Mr Eastwood said: “I was there to tell them that they should not be hauling victims and their families in for questioning, retraumatising them for walking together to court after 52 years of seeking justice. In the week that it was confirmed that someone will finally face a criminal prosecution for the events of that day, this process is an outrage.”
He said the PSNI are aware of where he lives if they want to arrest him for refusing to continue to wait for an interview in relation to a complaint over an alleged unnotified parade.
Mr Eastwood told reporters: “I’ve been sitting in there for 20 minutes and the PSNI have refused to send down to interview me. So I’ll not be partaking in any further part of this process, I was only going in there to tell them that this was a farce and it shouldn’t happen, and that’s the end of the matter.
“Good luck to the PSNI if this is the type of approach that they’re taking.”
Mr Eastwood said: “Innocent families who’ve been through five decades of hurt and pain and injustice walked up a street. It is utterly ridiculous that the PSNI think this is the way to approach victims of what happened on Bloody Sunday.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “An investigation has commenced and, as enquiries are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.”
by Constant__18