IRA man threatened to kill pregnant sister, inquiry told

A self-confessed IRA explosives officer threatened to kill his pregnant sister after Bloody Sunday because she was married to a soldier, the Saville Inquiry heard today.

Michael Clarke, who made bombs for the Creggan Unit of the Provos, spoke of his anger after 13 civilians were shot down by paratroopers in the Bogside area of Derry in January 1972.

“The feeling of anger and frustration is difficult to put into words,” he said. “I then did something which

I’m not proud of, I threatened to kill my sister who was pregnant at the time, because she was married to a British soldier.

“We’ve not spoken to each other for 30 years since then.”

Mr Clarke said he had once asked his brother-in-law if he would shoot him in a riot if ordered to by his superiors.

“He said that he would. I asked about his conscience. He told me he was not allowed to have a conscience.”

The former Provo, who was on active patrol in the Creggan area of the city, said he was wracked by guilt because he felt that joining the terror group may have contributed to the tragedy.

“I am guilt-ridden by Bloody Sunday. I have lived with the thought that if I had not joined the movement Bloody Sunday may not have happened.

“This is because the IRA was the excuse which the British Army took to shoot 14 innocent people.

“I have lived with this for 35 years. Would people still be alive? I want closure for the families and hopefully closure from me,” he added.

He denied that the IRA had made nail bombs on Bloody Sunday in preparation for an attack on the Army.

Commenting on claims that a tray of nail bombs were seen in Glenfada Park, the scene of many of the shootings, he added: “If there were nail bombs, they were not ours. I do not think that the Official IRA used them.

“I am absolutely positive that none of our nail bombs were used on Bloody Sunday.