FLYING Parachute Regiment flags should be considered a hate crime, according to the families of those murdered by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday in Derry nearly 50 years ago.

The offensive flags are flown in the village of Newbuildings every year in the run-up to the anniversary of the killing of 13 unarmed people were shot dead after members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire on a peaceful civil rights march on January 30 1972.

Kate Nash, whose brother William was among those killed, said she “cannot understand why we are forced to put up with this year in and year out because to me this is a hate crime.”

Ms Nash branded the actions hurtful, adding: “It is awful that some people seek to glorify the soldiers who carried out Bloody Sunday in such a public way.”

Sinn Fein councillor Christopher Jackson called for the flags to be removed.

“Given the brutal history of the Parachute Regiment in this city, the erection of these flags is provocative and disrespectful and clearly designed to hurt the families who had loved ones murdered and injured on Bloody Sunday,” he said.

PSNI Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said the police supported dialogue between local representatives to resolve the matter.