Mowlam wanted no soldiers to face legal action over Bloody Sunday

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, the then Northern Ireland Secretary also said she realised it would not be possible to deliver an “absolute guarantee” on such a limitation, newly released Government papers reveal. The following month Ms Mowlam wrote to the then Defence Secretary George Robertson stating her preference for announcing a new review into Bloody Sunday with an “overriding limitation”. “I realise it will not be possible to deliver an absolute guarantee on that override.” A heartfelt apology should, in my view, be the Government's last word on the subject George Robertson A letter in response from Mr Roberston said: “I believe that a review would be fraught with difficulties and that the balance of risk against potential benefits argues strongly against it. “A heartfelt apology should, in my view, be the Government’s last word on the subject.” After years of campaigning by victims’ families, then-prime minister Tony Blair ordered a new inquiry in 1998.