Part of the British army operation in Derry on Bloody Sunday was today compared to the actions of the "Keystone Cops".
A lawyer representing the families of the dead and wounded said it was ridiculous that the commander of the army unit that fired more than 100 shots in Derry became involved in arresting protesters, instead of being in a position of control.
Mr Arthur Harvey QC said the actions of Colonel Ted Loden, who was the major in command of the Parachute Regiment's Support Company on January 30th, 1972, were like those of Charlie Chaplin.
Col Loden told the Saville Inquiry in London today he broke his baton over a man's head, while the crew of his command vehicle arrested rioters on the day 13 civil rights marchers were shot dead by soldiers. A 14th man died later.
Mr Harvey said: "It is absolutely, completely and utterly Chaplinesque, is it not?
"You go out, according to your current recollection, de-bus as the company commander, pursue someone, strike them and break your baton over the back of their head, your two radio operators go off on a frolic of their own to arrest individuals that it must have taken some time to do and achieve. Is that not, quite literally, something from a Mack Sennett film?"
"I am not familiar with Mack Sennett," Col Loden replied.
Mr Harvey asked: "Are you not? You have never heard of Charlie Chaplin or the Keystone Cops?"
"I have heard of them, but I certainly do not watch them," Col Loden replied.
Mr Harvey said: "That is what this is, as a person who is supposed to be in control of 75 people who he sends in to effect arrests, that the actual command vehicle involving the commanding officer and his two signallers actually depart and become, effectively, part of a snatch operation. Do you see an element of absurdity about it?"
"No, no, it was over in a flash. I was back in my vehicle, and in my vehicle there are two more radio sets," Col Loden replied.
Col Loden accompanied his troops into the nationalist Bogside area of the city in an armoured vehicle. He said it was not part of his function or that of the crew in his vehicle to arrest people on Bloody Sunday.