Army 'planted nail bombs on victim'

Thirteen civilians were killed on Bloody Sunday

Army officials agreed nail bombs were planted on a teenager killed in Bloody Sunday, a journalist has told the inquiry.

Former BBC producer David Mills said he had been given the impression that the devices were placed in the clothing of 17-year-old Gerald Donaghy.

He also said soldiers were ready to lie about the use of live gunfire to protect themselves.

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

Mr Mills met ex-Ministry of Defence information officer Colin Wallace and Lieutenant Colonel Overbury while researching for the programme 24 Hours.

I am quite sure that I concluded that the strong suspicions that they had been planted were actually shared by the two of them

David Mills
Journalist

Mr Mills told the Saville Inquiry on Wednesday they discussed Gerald Donaghy, whose family has always said the devices were planted after he was killed.

The journalist said while the former Army officials did not explicitly confirm this, they gave him the impression this had happened.

'Political intervention'

He said: "I would have been testing that possibility with them and from their body language, the way that they responded.

"I am quite sure that I concluded that the strong suspicions that they had been planted were actually shared by the two of them."

He said he was in Londonderry to make a programme on the Widgery Tribunal's findings, but was blocked from interviewing soldiers.

He said the Army had been forced to prevent any contact with soldiers due to political intervention.

It was evident to me that soldiers were prepared to lie about the circumstances surrounding live gunfire to protect themselves

David Mills

But Mr Mills said he was allowed to socialise with members of the Army's legal team while the inquiry was taking place.

"I remember having dinner with Colin Wallace and Lt Col Overbury on at least one occasion and I got the clear impression from them that they viewed the defence of the Army's position as something of a charade," he said.

The former producer told the inquiry he was shot at himself by a soldier from the city walls and said a shot struck the pavement close to his feet.

He said he was later invited to lunch with an unnamed senior Army officer with whom he discussed the alleged attack.

"He told me that the soldier in question had claimed that I was carrying a weapon and that I had been shot at whilst running across the road from the Bogside Inn," said Mr Mills.

"All of this was completely untrue. It was evident to me that soldiers were prepared to lie about the circumstances surrounding live gunfire to protect themselves.

"I was told that the soldier had been 'spoken to' about the incident."

Commonwealth judges

The tribunal, chaired by Lord Saville, 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.