Ex-para killed three 'doing his job'

A former paratrooper who admitted killing three people on Bloody Sunday told the Saville Inquiry today he was only doing his job.

Soldier F, who was a lance corporal in Anti Tank platoon in January 1972 when 13 civilians were shot dead in the Bogside area of Derry, said he felt he had done nothing wrong on Bloody Sunday.

Asked by Seamus Treacy QC, representing some of the families, if he felt he did his duty on Bloody Sunday, Soldier F replied: “I was doing my job as a soldier, yes.”

Forensic tests have linked Soldier F’s rifle to the killing of 17-year-old Michael Kelly at the rubble barricade in Rossville Street.

He was also one of a group of paratroopers who moved into Glenfada Park North, where six people were killed and seven wounded.

Soldier F, who admitted shooting a nailbomber at the barricade, another nailbomber in Glenfada Park and a man firing a pistol at the Rossville Flats, insisted he was operating within the British army’s yellow card rules of engagement.

Asked by Mr Treacy if he felt it was a job well done, Soldier F replied: “I think it was well done to the effect that no soldiers were killed or injured on that day.”

Soldier F has told the inquiry that he cannot recall any of the circumstances in which he fired a total of 13 shots on Bloody Sunday.

Asked by Mr Treacy how many people he killed, he referred to statements he made shortly after the event.

“According to my statements, it was one at the barricade, one in Glenfada Park and one the gunman with the pistol,” he said.

The former lance corporal, who left the British army in 1988 after 22 years, told the inquiry that he ended up with the rank of sergeant major.

Mr Treacy said: “Whatever you did on Bloody Sunday, it clearly did not count against you in terms of your career within the army. Is that right?”

He replied: “That is correct.”