Taxi driver tells of arrest ordeal

A taxi driver who claims he was arrested by troops on trumped-up rioting charges on Bloody Sunday never got his takings, wedding ring and watch back afterwards, the Saville Inquiry heard today.

Patrick Martin Norris said the personal property was taken from him after he was detained in the afternoon of January 30 1972 - the day 13 Catholic men were shot dead during a military operation in Derry’s Bogside - as he was on his way to pick up a fare.

According to his account of events, made public as he gave evidence at the inquiry in the Guildhall today, three people were put in the back of his taxi and he was forced to drive around the Bogside district with a soldier pointing a gun at him from the passenger seat.

He claimed he was then ordered to stop and placed on a three-tonne Army truck with other detainees, and driven away to Fort George barracks in the city.

His written statement said: ‘‘I was kneeling on the floor with my hands over my head and I was absolutely terrified. As far as I was concerned, I was being taken out of the city and may have been about to be shot.’’

The inquiry has already heard one other claim about soldiers using a taxi to ferry people arrested on Bloody Sunday. First-aider Charles Glenn claimed he was placed in the back of a taxi and taken to a lorry.

Mr Norris said he believed his personal possessions were taken off him just before he was ordered onto the lorry.

Later he added: ‘‘When I was released I was given back my personal possessions, but I found that some of them were missing, in particular some taxi money, my wedding ring and my watch.’’

He said later: ‘‘Some months after the event I received a letter which said all charges against me had been dropped and I believe some time after that I got a further letter enclosing £16 or £17 in compensation for the lost property.

‘‘I never took the matter of the lost property any further. I just wanted to forget the whole thing, it having been such a terrifying experience.’’