A man today rejected claims that a paratrooper who opened fire on Bloody Sunday may have felt threatened by the large crowd.
Mr Hugh Kelly said he was with only two or three others when the round was fired by soldier "N" in what was believed to be the first military gunfire following the arrival of troops into the Bogside.
|
Mr Kelly was the second witness today to tell the new inquiry into the killings of people fleeing down Chamberlain Street towards the Rossville Flats. He said "M" fired from the hip towards him from a gap in the houses in what seemed to be an unprovoked shooting.
Mr Kelly also described tending the body of one of the dead, Hugh Gilmour (17) later that day, and said: "As far as I am concerned, the events of that day were sheer bloody murder."
The first witness today, Mr Terence McClements, gave an almost identical description of the episode.
Mr McClements also told the Inquiry how he has carried the guilt throughout his life of surviving Bloody Sunday after seeing a former classmate shot dead beside him.
He said he was "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the unarmed Jack Duddy, when the teenager was felled by a bullet.
Mr Duddy (17) was the first person killed on Bloody Sunday and was the casualty famously filmed being carried away, the crouching figure of Father Edward Daly leading the way, waving a bloodstained handkerchief.
Mr McClements, also 17 at the time, said he was fleeing troops advancing into the city's Bogside following a civil rights march when "suddenly Jackie pitched forward and fell on his mouth and nose with his arms outstretched. I thought he had tripped and cannot recall hearing shots".
He added: "It all seemed to happen in slow motion. I ran on for a few feet and stopped. My intention was to return to Jackie, but then I heard a voice shouting, ‘Don't stop’ and ‘Keep running’.
"I was torn between running and going back to check on Jackie. However, as I could now hear shooting all around, my instinct for self-preservation took over and I ran."
PA