Northern Ireland Police are to launch an inquiry into the army’s killing of 13 civilians 40 years ago, as confirmed by Chief Constable Matt Baggott.

On 30th January 1972, on what is now known as Bloody Sunday, soldiers of the British Army shot 26 unarmed protesters and bystanders at a march in Derry, Northern Ireland, against ongoing internment without trial.

Of the 26 that were shot 13 died immediately or shortly after the shoooting.

The inquiry team is expected to have up to 30 officers, although Baggott was unable to confirm when it would begin.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, told The Guardian:

"It certainly is good news, but it was something we were expecting anyway.

"My view on it at the time was these soldiers should have been arrested straight away and prosecuted on what came out of the Saville report.

"But certainly after hearing what we heard today it's a step in the right direction because myself, my family and most of the families want prosecutions.”

The Saville Report’s verdict, that all the victims of the shooting were unarmed and innocent, was wholly accepted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron in his speech which officially launched the report in 2010. Cameron also apologised in the Commons and described what happened as “both unjustified and unjustifiable.”

It is unlikely however that any former soldiers involved in the killings will serve long jail sentences as all crimes committed pre-1998 have a de facto amnesty under the Good Friday Agreement.