Power and politics in public inquiries: bloody sunday 1972

What are the dominant framings by which public inquiries understand and analyze power dynamics in events they examine? We draw on unique data from Saville Inquiry into killing of 13 people British soldiers at acivil rights demonstration Northern Ireland 1972. Juxtaposing an analysis actions senior military figures with final report, we show how approach ‘sufficient rationalization’ dominated apublic inquiry’s conclusions, marginalizing discounting important aspects. Emphasizing local exercise affective attachments, our article contributes alternative to analyzing inquiries.