British army paratroopers never intended to seize control of the Bogside area of Derry on Bloody Sunday, their commanding officer said today.
Colonel Derek Wilford disagreed with a suggestion by Mr Christopher Clarke QC, senior counsel to the Saville Inquiry, that the aim of the army was to seize control of no-go areas controlled by the IRA.
Col Wilford, who commanded paratroopers in Derry on January 30th, 1972, also said he received sufficient orders from his superiors on the day 13 civilians were shot dead by soldiers. A 14th man died later.
He has complained in television interviews that he did not receive enough orders from brigade headquarters, but today he told the Saville Inquiry in London he was mistaken, insisting he did not act beyond his orders.
Col Wilford told the inquiry his command centre was always aware he intended to send his troops through two crowd control barriers to separate and arrest rioters despite only one movement being included in communication logs from the day. He also said he did not hear any army shooting before he sent his men into the nationalist Bogside area.
Col Wilford was in charge of the first battalion of the Parachute Regiment on Bloody Sunday and went into Little James Street through a crowd control barrier with his men. He said his troops intended to arrest as many rioters as possible and only opened fire when shot upon.
PA