Man rejects tribunal witness evidence

Shooting victim carried away on Bloody Sunday

A man who took statements about Bloody Sunday in 1972 has told the Saville Inquiry that he did not leave out evidence about gunmen.

A witness had told the inquiry several weeks ago that the man had left out her evidence about a gunman.

Speaking at the inquiry at the Guildhall in Londonderry on Tuesday, William Smith rejected the claim.

The inquiry is examining the events of 30 January 1972 when British soldiers opened fire on a civil rights march in Derry.

Thirteen people were killed on the day and a fourteenth man who was shot died later.

Witness described gunman

Teresa Bradley told the inquiry that when she made a statement a few days after Bloody Sunday, she described seeing a gunman fire several shots from a handgun at Kells Walk.

Ms Bradley said she later saw a car with rifles on the back seat in the Brandywell area.

Inquiry chairman Lord Saville

But she said Mr Smith, who took the statement, did not want to know about the gunman or the guns, and that these details were not included in her statement.

But Mr Smith said he was apolitical, had no agenda and recorded what he was told faithfully and without question.

He said Ms Bradley's allegation had hurt him and his family and he was grateful to be given the chance to rebut the allegation and clear his name.

He said only she could say why she made the allegation.

The inquiry in Derry's Guildhall has been hearing evidence since March 2000 about the events of Bloody Sunday.

It was set up by Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1998 and to date it has cost in the region of £30m.

It is expected to run for at least two more years. Proceedings continue on Wednesday.