Inquiry hears forensic evidence

Thirteen civilians were killed on Bloody Sunday

A retired forensic scientist has told the Bloody Sunday Inquiry that he did not know that some of the victims were handled by soldiers and taken to the mortuary in the back of an army vehicle.

The Saville 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 the city. A 14th person died later.

Dr John Martin, whose findings in 1972 helped Lord Widgery to conclude that some of the victims were gunmen, said that he believed that all the bodies had been taken to the mortuary in clean conditions.

Giving his evidence on Tuesday, Dr Martin also said that he believed that only 30 shots had been fired but later discovered that soldiers had fired more than 100 rounds.

Thirteen civilians were killed on Bloody Sunday

Dr Martin also told the Inquiry that the possibility of contamination was not fully understood in 1972 and that lead particles found on some of the victims could have been caused by car exhaust fumes or from work.

The tribunal resumed after the summer break on Monday.

It is sitting in the Guildhall in Londonderry for a short time before moving to London to hear evidence from soldiers.

Lord Saville and the commonwealth judges who comprise the inquiry began their work nearly four years ago and are not expected to report back until 2004.

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.