A new delay in the publication of the findings into the £200m Bloody Sunday Inquiry left the UK government stunned tonight.
Lord Saville’s findings will not now be ready until next March, more than six years after the marathon investigation ended into the January 1972 shootings in Derry.
Downing Street had been expected to take delivery of the report later this year - Christmas at the latest.
But Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has now been told it will not be ready until March 22nd next year.
Relatives of the victims expressed disbelief at the new hold up and a clearly exasperated Mr Woodward said he was profoundly shocked.
He added: “I am concerned at the impact on the families of those who lost loved ones and those who were injured.
“I am equally concerned at the increased anxiety that soldiers serving on the day will suffer.”
PA