Colum Eastwood: MP describes PSNI's parade probe as 'a farce'

SDLP MP Colum Eastwood described the police investigation as a "farce"

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said he was asked to attend a police interview after accompanying some Bloody Sunday families to a court hearing involving Soldier F.

The Foyle MP walked with relatives of the dead and injured to Bishop Street courthouse in Londonderry in August.

He said the investigation was a farce.

The police said: "An investigation has commenced and, as enquiries are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time."

The politician went to Strand Road police station in Derry on Friday but walked out after 20 minutes when, he said, no one came to speak to him.

The Bloody Sunday Trust also confirmed that some relatives of the civil rights marchers who were killed or injured in Derry on 30 January 1972 had been asked to attend for police interview.

'Total farce'

It comes a day after Soldier F was returned for trial for the murders of two civil rights demonstrators and the attempted murder of five others on Bloody Sunday.

Mr Eastwood spoke to journalists outside the police station after walking out.

"That was 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 family to the Derry courthouse at a hearing for Soldier F.

"I agreed to come for one reason only. I was going to be very clear with the police that no members of the Bloody Sunday families will be attending to take part in this farce."

In Northern Ireland, you must give 28 days' notice if you want to hold a parade or procession.

People can be prosecuted for organising or taking part in an "unnotified parade".