Bloody Sunday paratrooper killings shame nation, says PM

The conclusions of Lord Saville's report into the killing of 14 civilians shot in Londonderry 38 years ago were "absolutely clear," said Mr Cameron. "There is no doubt, there is nothing equivocal, there are no ambiguities.

"What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong."

In a dramatic statement to a hushed House of Commons, the Prime Minister went on to apologise on behalf of the country for the actions of the troops when they opened fire on a civil rights march on January 30 1972.

The Saville Report squarely blamed British paratroopers for the carnage and said some soldiers had later lied to cover-up what they had done.

They were found to have fired the first shots, to have given no warnings and to have lost control. Unarmed victims were shot dead as they tried to flee.

Previous speculation that unknown IRA gunmen had been wounded or killed by troops, and their bodies spirited away, was dismissed. Lord Saville's report said: "What happened on Bloody Sunday strengthened the Provisional IRA, increased nationalist resentment and hostility towards the Army and exacerbated the violent conflict of the years that followed. Bloody Sunday was a tragedy for the bereaved and the wounded, and a catastrophe for the people of Northern Ireland."

The findings were welcomed by relatives of the victims and marchers who had been there on the day, many of whom believed the facts of what really happened had been denied for far too long.

Former Catholic Bishop of Derry Edward Daly, who as a priest waved the bloodied white handkerchief as the body of the dying Jackie Duddy was carried from the carnage, said: "It's a good day for justice."

The damning findings may now lead to criminal prosecutions. Mr Cameron told the Commons that would be a decision for the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland. Civil claims for compensation could also follow the outcome of Britain's longest public inquiry, which began 12 years ago and cost 200m.