A loss of discipline by members of the Parachute Regiment contributed to the deaths of unarmed civilians on Bloody Sunday, the Saville Inquiry heard today.
A former company sergeant major, responsible for discipline of the soldiers on Bloody Sunday said he felt a sense of guilt for what happened in Derry on January 30, 1972 when 13 civilians were shot dead.
Company Sgt Maj Lewis told the Inquiry: "I do feel (and did at the time feel) an element of personal responsibility for what happened on Bloody Sunday."
But there was laughter from the public gallery at Central Hall in Westminster when he insisted he did not see anyone being shot on the day.
The former sergeant major said during the time he was in the Bogside he heard two shots fired by members of the Parachute Regiment and did not see anyone shot dead or injured.
The former soldier was asked by counsel to the inquiry Mr Alan Roxburgh whether soldiers had over-reacted.
"It was just a feeling that I had at the time that maybe some of the soldiers might have responded rather over-enthusiastically to a situation that could have been controlled more easily by firing fewer rounds," he replied.
He added he believed that many of those killed on Bloody Sunday were innocent civilians.
"It is tragic for the families who lost their lives on Bloody Sunday. I cannot say whether any of those who were killed or injured were armed but in my own mind, I do believe that a lot of these people were not armed."
Giving evidence on the 373rd day of the Inquiry, he said that prior to the march many soldiers were sympathetic to the aims of the civil rights people but there was a feeling of enthusiasm that they could come face to face with the IRA.
"The general briefing on the march was that when it ended the rougher elements might have a go at the security forces. There was an implication, a general feeling in the briefing that we should not be surprised if shots were fired at us."
He told the inquiry that before they moved into the Bogside, he saw a corporal from mortar platoon cocking his weapon.
"It was contrary to the yellow card and I marked him in other words I decided to have a word with him when we got back to barracks but ultimately I never did."
After getting out of his vehicle in Rossville Street, he said he heard two high velocity shots which he believed was being fired at troops.
He then saw another soldier, a corporal, aiming his rifle at Rossville Flats.
"He told me that he could see a gunman on a balcony. I stood behind him, placed my hand on his shoulder and looked up the barrel of his rifle.
"On a balcony, there were people moving around but I could not identify a weapon or gunman," he added.
The former company sergeant major spoke afterwards to Soldier H who had fired 22 rounds on Bloody Sunday. Soldier H told him that he had been firing at a face in a toilet window.
"I am not sure whether he limited his explanation to seeing a face or whether he used the word "gunman". I do not know how he would have seen this. I was angry and said something like 'Bloody hell don't you know why you fired rounds?'. I did not think he was plausible."
He told the inquiry he carried out an ammunition check after the order had been given to cease firing. He received report stating that a total of 94 rounds had been fired.
PA