By Alan Healy
Deputy Editor

DERRY City Council is to begin making preparations for the Guildhall to host the publication of the Saville Report on June 15th.
The matter was discussed by elected representatives at Tuesday’s monthly meeting of council, before the Secretary of State Owen Patterson made the announcement.
Nevertheless, council will now plough ahead with preparing the building to facilitate an advance sight for both the families and the legal representatives on the day.
The nearby Tower Museum will also function as a temporary media centre for the families.
Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Town Clerk John Meehan confirmed that the City Solicitor, Damien McMahon had been in contact with the Northern Ireland Office over the use of the Guildhall for the report’s publication.
He added that the Guildhall will be available for use ‘under controlled conditions’ on the day, adding that there will be no fee for the hire of the building.
Commenting, the SDLP’s Colm Eastwood said that as a council, they would do everything to alleviate the stress of the families on the day.
Creggan Sinn Fein councillor Kevin Campbell echoed his comments, adding that the day could be ‘very upsetting and traumatic’ for the families and wounded, and that the Guildhall was ‘the right venue’ for the publication.
However, the DUP’s Joe Miller questioned the decision to waive the fee for the hiring out of the Guildhall on June 15.
The Deputy Town Clerk responded that council had previously expressed a wish to host the publication and the use would be free of charge.
Alderman Miller asked that it be recorded that he asked the question when it came to striking the annual rates.