THE BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY/Day 321: The officer in charge of British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday said yesterday that he had still not seen any evidence to indicate that those shot on the day were innocent.
Thirteen unarmed civilians died in Derry's Bogside on January 30th, 1972, when soldiers from the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civilians during an illegal civil rights demonstration.
Lieut Col Derek Wilford denied that he had a problem accepting that those killed on the day were innocent.
The assertion was put by Mr Michael Mansfield QC, who represents the families of two of the 13 victims as well as two of those who were injured.
Mr Mansfield told the now retired Lieut Col Wilford that "this may be one of the last opportunities you have" to accept that those who were killed were innocent.
However, the witness replied that he "cannot accept anything because I do not have the evidence". He told Mr Mansfield that he was not aware that it had been conceded by his counsel, Mr Edwin Glasgow QC, who represents most of the soldiers, that "the identified civilians who were killed were not armed terrorists".
Lieut Col Wilford said his counsel had made that concession "because they have got evidence, they have heard evidence, I have not".
He was asked: "Is the position that even though your counsel has conceded it, you are not prepared to?"
He answered: "Well, how can I? I have had no evidence, no one has actually shown me any evidence for this to be the case."
However, he added he did not have "any problem" with his counsel's submission that "those who have been identified as having been killed or wounded on 30th January, 1972, were themselves gunmen or nail bombers".
The inquiry continues.