Inquiry hears of 'shot gunmen'

Inquiry is being held at the Methodist Central Hall in London

A former parachute regiment soldier has told the Saville Inquiry that he shot two gunmen on Bloody Sunday.

Soldier C said he fired two shots at a man with a rifle near the main entrance to the Rossville Flats and then fired three rounds at a man with a pistol in a third storey flat.

The inquiry is examining the events of 30 January 1972 when 13 civilians were shot dead by British army soldiers during a civil rights march in Londonderry. A 14th person died later.

At the inquiry on Tuesday, it was suggested to Soldier C that he may not have been able to see his targets given his location on the day but he insisted that he fired at two gunmen.

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

Lord Saville of Newdigate and the Commonwealth judges accompanying him on the Bloody Sunday inquiry began their work nearly four years ago.

They are not expected to report back until next year.

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry was established in 1998 by Prime Minister Tony Blair after a campaign by families of those killed and injured.

They felt that the Widgery Inquiry, held shortly after the shootings, did not find out the truth about what happened on Bloody Sunday.