Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley admits there are 'no excuses' for her Troubles comments
Karen Bradley is under pressure for saying killings by the military and police during the decades of violence "were not crimes".
Thursday 14 March 2019 16:38, UK
Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley has told Sky News there are "no excuses" for her comments that killings by the military and police during the Troubles "were not crimes" - but repeatedly refused to say whether she would resign.
The cabinet minister has been fiercely criticised after telling MPs on Wednesday that British servicemen "were people acting under orders and instructions, fulfilling their duties in a dignified and appropriate way".
Amid the backlash at her remarks, Ms Bradley was forced to return to the Commons hours later to clarify that she was "not referring to any specific cases".
:: Add to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.
In 2010, former prime minister David Cameron issued a formal state apology for the "unjustified and unjustifiable" killing of 13 people by British soldiers in Northern Ireland in 1972.
Prosecutors are next week set to announce whether soldiers will face trial for the Bloody Sunday killings in Londonderry.
The families of those killed during Bloody Sunday are among those calling for Ms Bradley to resign.
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, Ms Bradley reiterated her apology over her remarks, saying: "There's no excuses, I said something in the House of Commons I shouldn't have said.
"It's factually wrong, it's not what I believe and I have apologised.
"The idea that I caused distress and hurt to those families I have met that have explained to me about their pain is devastating to me and I am just incredibly sorry that I have put them through that."
Ms Bradley explained she had made the comments "in the heat of the moment" and had not been reading off a page in the Commons.
However, despite the calls for her to quit her role, Ms Bradley refused four times to answer questions on whether she would be considering her position.
Instead, she said she was "determined" to deliver a system that will hand those families "justice that they so rightly deserve".
Ms Bradley had earlier said in a statement that she was "profoundly sorry for the offence and hurt" caused by her remarks.
She said: "The language was wrong and even though this was not my intention, it was deeply insensitive to many of those who lost loved ones."
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the remarks from Ms Bradley, who has been Northern Ireland secretary since January 2018, were "insensitive" and "wrong".
He added: "Bear in mind we're talking about the killing of civilians, peaceful protesters in Derry on Bloody Sunday, we're talking about Ballymurphy and Kingsmills, and Dublin and Monaghan.
"We need a British government that is at least open to the possibility that these killings of civilians were crimes.
"Indeed, there have been convictions for such killings."
Labour's Tony Lloyd said it was "clear that Karen Bradley does not have sufficient credibility to stay in her post".
The shadow Northern Ireland secretary added: "This was not just a gaffe and Bradley did not simply 'misspeak'.
"What she said reflected a disturbing pattern, with her and the prime minister having made a succession of baseless claims about military personnel being treated unfairly compared to others.
"If Theresa May can't find a replacement, they must finally tell us what the government is going to do with Northern Irish legacy cases."