Troops ordered to fire at crowds' backs: Saville witness

A former British serviceman, who took part in the march that turned into Bloody Sunday, today told the Saville Inquiry that troops were ordered to fire when the crowd had their backs turned.

A former British serviceman, who took part in the march that turned into Bloody Sunday, has told the Saville Inquiry today that troops were ordered to fire when the crowd had their backs turned.

John McLaughlin also told the inquiry into the deaths of 13 people in Derry in 1972 that his efforts to help two casualties were hampered by a soldier who told him to let them bleed to death.

Mr McLaughlin was giving evidence on day 67 of the public hearings at the Guildhall in Derry.

He told the tribunal that he was about 50 yards behind the troops at the centre of the inquiry, who deployed from two armoured patrol carriers on Rossville Street.

His statement to the hearings said that after the soldiers had taken up firing positions, he heard the officer give the order to identify a target and shoot.

He believed the troops were shooting towards the main body of marchers at Free Derry Corner.

Mr McLaughlin said that he could not understand why the soldiers had to identify their targets because the marchers had their backs to the soldiers.