Soldiers 'did not report shooting'

Military witnesses are giving evidence in London

The Parachute Regiment did not report that they had shot two people before they moved into the Bogside on Bloody Sunday, the Saville Inquiry has heard.

Major Michael Steele, who passed the orders on the day, was giving evidence to the inquiry for a second day at Central Hall in London on Thursday.

Major Steele also said that it was extraordinary the soldiers did not tell brigade headquarters they had fired a large number of shots until the main shooting was over.

On 30 January 1972, paratroops opened fire on civilians at a civil rights march in the Bogside in Londonderry killing 13 people. Another man died later.

We had not received any sort of report about it at all and it was very disappointing

Major Michael Steele

He agreed under questioning by Arthur Harvey QC, representing most of the families, that it was extraordinary and surprising that the soldiers did not tell him they had shot two people on William Street about 15 minutes before he passed the order to move into the Bogside area to arrest rioters.

He also said it was extraordinary the troops on the ground did not tell him they fired more than 100 shots until the shooting had ended.

"We had not received any sort of report about it at all - it was very disappointing," said the major.

'Did their best'

But he disagreed with Mr Harvey that the operation was very badly executed by the Parachute Regiment.

He said they did the best they could because everything changed when they came under fire.

The Saville Inquiry was set up by Prime Minister Tony Blair to reinvestigate the evidence because the relatives felt the first inquiry was a whitewash.

Lord Saville and the Commonwealth judges who comprise the inquiry, are not expected to report back until 2004.

The inquiry, which usually sits at the Guildhall in Derry, is currently hearing the evidence from military witnesses in London because of concerns for their safety.