Bloody Sunday: Lord Widgery's Report 1972: Lord Widgery's Report of Events in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on 30 January 1972 edited by Tim Coates

Bloody Sunday: Lord Widgery's Report 1972: Lord Widgery's Report of Events in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on 30 January 1972 edited by Tim Coates this is the first government report that was commissioned on the controversial shooting of protesters by the British Army. Bloody Sunday is one of the most famous incidents of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

This book was published as part of a series called Uncovered Editions. These consist of material taken out of the British archives making it accessible for a wider public. This is a truly admirable program that entrepreneurial souls in other countries should consider doing.

The report itself essentially takes the side of the army units. The only real criticism of the authorities was that the rules of engagement were unclear and could be difficult to parse when being shot at. Today the report is considered to be flawed both in its acceptance of forensic evidence and in other particulars. Frustratingly I did not learn this from Coates' introduction I had to look it up online. There was no attempt to put the report in context. Definitely a lost opportunity.

Recommended for the report but not for the apparatus surrounding it.