Man denies shooting soldiers

The inquiry is examining the events of 30 January 1972

A former Official IRA man has dismissed a suggestion that he shot and killed three soldiers in the months leading up to Bloody Sunday.

Official IRA Man One told the Saville Inquiry that he fired a single shot at a soldier on Bloody Sunday after the Army had shot two people on William Street.

The inquiry is examining the events of 30 January 1972 when 13 civilians were shot dead by soldiers during a civil rights march in Londonderry.

Another man died later from his injuries.

However, a journalist claimed in 1972 that the man who fired that shot also told him that he had killed three soldiers in the six months before Bloody Sunday.

Giving evidence to the tribunal on Monday, Official IRA Man One said he had not given any information to the journalist and said his report was nonsense.

The witness also rejected a suggestion that he fired his shot on Bloody Sunday before the Army had fired.

Lord Saville is chairman of the inquiry

The Saville Inquiry opened in Derry three and a half years ago, but moved to Westminster's Methodist Hall to hear evidence from more than 200 former soldiers and some politicians.

The inquiry returned to Derry in October.

This session marks the beginning of the end of the evidence - the tribunal is hoping to hear all the witnesses by Christmas.

Lord Saville of Newdigate and the Commonwealth judges accompanying him on the inquiry are not expected to report back until next year.

The 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.