No 'unlawful lethal force' - Heath

Thirteen civilians were killed on Bloody Sunday

The former prime minister Sir Edward Heath has told the Bloody Sunday inquiry that he never promoted or agreed to the use of unlawful lethal force in Northern Ireland.

Sir Edward said he did not believe that the way to restore law and order in Londonderry was to shoot some of the rioters after warnings had been issued.

The Saville Inquiry is investigating what happened on 30 January 1972 when paratroops opened fire on civilians at a civil rights march in the Bogside in Derry killing 13 people. Another man died later.

Sir Edward refused to answer questions from a barrister representing the families who wanted to know what he would have done if he had seen a memo from the Commander of Land Forces saying that some rioters might have to be shot.

Sir Edward Heath: Questions 'a waste of everyone's time'

He told Michael Lavery QC that the questions were "hypothetical" and were "a waste of everyone's time".

The Inquiry Chairman, Lord Saville, told Mr Lavery that he might have to ask him to sit down if he was not going to make a direct suggestion.

'Very annoyed'

Earlier on Monday, a former army commander told the Saville Inquiry that he was "very annoyed" when he learned the Parachute Regiment was to be used to arrest rioters on Bloody Sunday.

Colonel Roy Jackson, who was in charge of the Royal Anglians, said he told the soldier in charge of the operation that the Paras should not be used as they did not know the Bogside area.

Colonel Jackson said Brigadier Pat MacLellan replied that he could not change anything as the decision to use the Paras had been made at the highest level.

Brigadier MacLellan has already said in Tribunal evidence that he was ordered by the Commander of Land Forces, General Sir Robert Ford, to use the Parachute Regiment.

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.