First Bloody Sunday killing recalled

Bloody Sunday victim Jack Duddy: Enduring image of shootings

A former classmate of the first person to be killed on Bloody Sunday has described how his friend was shot dead by soldiers.

Giving evidence to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in Londonderry, William Terence McClements said he was standing within two feet of 17-year-old Jack Duddy when he was shot dead.

The inquiry was established to examine the events of 30 January 1972 when 13 Catholic men were shot dead by British soldiers during a civil rights march in the Bogside area of the city.

A 14th person died later from his injuries.

Mr Duddy was the shooting victim photographed as he was being carried to receive medical attention by fellow demonstrators in one of the most publicised images surrounding Bloody Sunday.

The same picture shows Fr Edward Daly, later Bishop Daly, waving a blood stained white handkerchief.

During his evidence at the proceedings in Derry's Guild Hall, Mr McClements described an incident in which he was almost killed himself just before Mr Duddy was shot dead.

He told the inquiry, which is being chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate, that a soldier shot at him as he stood with his arm in a sling because of a cracked shoulder-blade.

He said he had been running towards the car park towards the Rossville Flats when the encounter took place.

In a statement, he said: "He held his rifle as if he was left-handed, in that the butt of the rifle was held by him in his left hand.

"He saw me looking at him and, very casually, swung his rifle in my direction and fired. I flinched and thought, `Jesus'."

I could now hear shooting all around - my instinct for self-preservation took over and I ran

Terence McClements

He added that he was certain he had not heard any warning before the shot was fired.

He also told the inquiry that he had seen Michael Bridge, another of the victims, being shot.

"To this day I have felt guilt, because: why me and not someone else?

"But I seen what I saw. I seen Jack Duddy getting shot down, unarmed, not two feet from me, for no reason other than he was running away."

He said that he met Jack Duddy as he was crossing the car park at Rossville Street and added that he was running at this right hand side and was empty handed.

"Suddenly Jackie pitched forward and fell on his mouth and nose with his arms outstretched. I thought he had tripped and cannot recall hearing shots.

"It all seemed to happen in slow motion. I ran on for a few feet and stopped. My intention was to return to Jackie, but then I heard a voice shouting `Don't stop' and `Keep running'.

"I was torn between running and going back to check on Jackie. However, as I could now hear shooting all around, my instinct for self-preservation took over and I ran."

Under cross-examination, Mr McClements said he did not record either incident when he gave a statement collected for civil liberties groups shortly after the killings in January 1972.

He said he had not made a statement because he had not believed what had happened. because he could not believe what had happened and felt guilt for having survived events that day.