Inquiry told of 'unarmed' victim

The inquiry is sitting at the Guildhall in Londonderry

A witness has told the Bloody Sunday Inquiry how he crawled from cover to help a dying man.

Paddy Walsh said he crawled to the body of Paddy Doherty and searched him for weapons.

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

Mr Walsh said he thought Mr Doherty must have been armed, otherwise he would not have been shot.

Lord Saville: Heading inquiry

But Mr Walsh said he did not find any weapons, even though he searched every pocket.

Mr Walsh added that shots were being fired as he tried to help Mr Doherty.

A barrister representing Mr Doherty's family praised Mr Walsh for his heroism while a solicitor representing the soldiers said he saluted Mr Walsh for his courage and compassion.

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry, chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate, was established in 1998 by British Prime Minister Tony Blair after a campaign by families of those killed and injured.

Immune

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

The new inquiry has been sitting in public in Derry's Guildhall for more than a year and is expected to run for another two years.

Witnesses to the inquiry are immune from prosecution on issues arising from their evidence.

It is aimed solely at establishing the facts of what happened.