The memorial to the 14 people who died on Bloody Sunday in Derry rises from among the sea of umbrellas as all the families came together in an ecumenical service. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Civil Rights mark.The service included contributions from Father Michael Canny and Reverend David Latimer, left. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 29.1.12

A memorial to those killed on Bloody Sunday in the Bogside area of Derry

Linda Nash carries flowers with the number 14 inscribed during yesterdays annual Bloody Sunday Parade in Derry. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 29.1.12

The start of a grim day in Derry. Civil Rights marchers make their way through Creggan. They defied a Government ban and headed for Guildhall Square, but were stopped by the Army in William Street. 31/1/1972

JAMES WRAY IN HIS HOME IN THE BOGSIDE DERRY HOLDING THE COAT WITH BULLIET HOLES IN THAT HIS SON ALSO CALLED JAMES WRAY WAS KILLED ON BLOODY SUNDAY

A man receiving attention during the shooting incident in Londonderry, which became known as Bloody Sunday

Michael Kelly who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

Bloody Sunday. Funeral. Mrs Ita McKinney, 9 months pregnant cries behind the hearse carrying her husband James from St Mary's, Creggan. 2/2/1972.

Patrick Doherty who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

Alana Burke who was eighteen when she was run over by an armoured personnel carrier on Bloody Sunday.

Gerald Donaghey who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

Gerard McKinney who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

Kevin McElhinney who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

William McKinney who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

John Young who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

Jim Wray who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

Lord Chief Justice, Lord Widgery in his room at the Old Bailey as he looks through his report on the "Bloody Sunday" shootings

Soldiers taking cover behind their sandbagged armoured cars during Bloody Sunday

Bloody Sunday: Up to 20 soldiers still face being formally questioned by police for alleged murder, attempted murder or criminal injury during the notorious incident

Michael McDaid who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

Hugh Gilmore who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

A protest parade in was staged in Londonderry in January to mark the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday

Lt Col Derek Wilford, the former commander of the members of the Parachute Regiment involved in the Bloody Sunday shootings

Hugh Gilmore (third left) seen clutching his stomach as he is shot during Bloody Sunday.

A scene showing a British paratrooper near Glenfada Park in Derry where Bloody Sunday took place.

A young Fr Edward Daly carries a blood-soaked hankie as he leads a group of men trying desperately to carry John 'Jackie' Duddy to safety. Duddy (17) was the first fatality of Bloody Sunday after being shot from behind by paratroopers

A young Fr Edward Daly carries a blood-soaked hankie as he leads a group of men trying desperately to carry John 'Jackie' Duddy to safety. Duddy (17) was the first fatality of Bloody Sunday after being shot from behind by paratroopers

30th January 1972: An armed soldier and a protestor on Bloody Sunday when British Paratroopers shot dead 13 civilians on a civil rights march.

Paddy Doherty, who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

The widow of a man shot dead by a soldier on Bloody Sunday is to receive £625,000 in damages, the High Court heard today.

The settlement was reached in 80-year-old Ita McKinney's legal action over her husband Gerry's killing in Derry in January 1972.

Mr McKinney, a 35-year-old a father-of-eight, was among 13 people shot dead when British Army paratroopers opened fire on civil rights demonstrators.

One of the others wounded on the day died later.

In a separate resolution, the brother of single man Michael McDaid, 20, is to receive £75,000 in damages for his death on Bloody Sunday.

The outcomes follow last week's award of £193,000 compensation to Michael Quinn, who was shot in the face as a schoolboy by one of the soldiers.

Mr Justice McAlinden congratulated lawyers involved in the test cases for reaching the settlements "without the need for any distressing sensitive or distressing evidence to be given".

Expand Close St Mary's Church, on the Creggan Estate, during the Requiem Mass for the 13 who died on 'Bloody Sunday' in Londonderry. PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp St Mary's Church, on the Creggan Estate, during the Requiem Mass for the 13 who died on 'Bloody Sunday' in Londonderry.

Claims were brought against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by victims and their families after a major tribunal established the innocence of all those killed and wounded.

The Saville Inquiry's findings in 2010 prompting the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, to publicly apologise for the actions of the soldiers.

He described the killings as "unjustified and unjustifiable".

Expand Close The start of a grim day in Derry. Civil Rights marchers make their way through Creggan. They defied a Government ban and headed for Guildhall Square, but were stopped by the Army in William Street. 31/1/1972 / Facebook

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Whatsapp The start of a grim day in Derry. Civil Rights marchers make their way through Creggan. They defied a Government ban and headed for Guildhall Square, but were stopped by the Army in William Street. 31/1/1972

With liability accepted, the court battle centred on the level of damages to be paid out.

Mr McKinney was shot at Abbey Park in the city after going on the civil rights march.

A qualified engineer and toolmaker by trade, he had been a renowned entrepreneur prior to his death.

He and his wife Ita had seven children, with an eighth born a week after Bloody Sunday.

In court today a dispute emerged over methods for calculating the financial loss in his case.

Counsel for Mrs McKinney, Brian Fee QC, claimed the defendants were attempting to use rules from the 1970s in order to pay out just a tenth of the appropriate damages.

He contended that it went against government pledges about taking a generous approach to compensating victims.

But following further out of court discussions it was confirmed that both listed cases had been resolved.

Mrs McKinney is to receive £625,000 plus costs in the action she brought on behalf of her late husband's dependants.

Kevin McDaid, who sued over the shooting of his brother Michael near a barricade on Rossville Street, will receive £75,000 damages, also with costs.

David Ringland QC, for the MoD, indicated that similar agreements are now expected to be reached in nine other fatal cases following the "breakthrough".

Outside court solicitor Fearghal Shiels of Madden & Finucane, representing the relatives involved in the lawsuits, said: "This is a further vindication of their innocence and the families in bringing the proceedings.

"We also welcome the fact that this has been resolved without the need for Mr McKinney's daughters to take the witness box."

Belfast Telegraph