The British army had no intelligence suggesting that IRA gunmen would open fire on them during the civil rights march which would become Bloody Sunday, a former Northern Ireland psychological warfare officer said yesterday.
The colonel, who has been granted anonymity for his own security, told the Saville Inquiry in London that although troops were readied for serious disturbances in Derry on Bloody Sunday in 1972 there were no suggestions that terrorists would use the march as "cover" for an attack.
An insight into the personal diaries of Colonel INQ1873 showed the officer - the most experienced psychological warfare officer in Northern Ireland at the time - feared the truth about Bloody Sunday would never be told.
Thirteen Catholic men and teenagers were shot dead on January 30th, 1972 when British paratroopers opened fire on the demonstrators amid rioting. A 14th man died later.
On day 242 of the inquiry in London yesterday, the former officer was asked by Mr Barry MacDonald: "It is quite clear, that you did not expect any IRA shooting on Bloody Sunday, did you?" He answered: "Me personally, no, and that goes for a lot of other officers in the headquarters as well." Mr MacDonald: "The most that you expected was that there may well be some public disorder?" INQ1873: "Of a serious nature perhaps." Questions have been raised during the inquiry into whether soldiers had been sent into the Bogside expecting to come under fire.
INQ1873, who was posted to Lisburn in 1970, later wrote a report in his role as General Staff GSO.1 (Liaison) Officer that there was intelligence before the shootings of IRA involvement in the march. But he told Lord Saville that he had only written that in "hindsight". On the day of the shooting INQ1873 wrote in his personal diary that the truth may never be told about the events of Bloody Sunday.
INQ1873 wrote in his diary, which was shown to the inquiry yesterday: "A very significant and tragic day. At the 10 p.m. BBC News the casualties were given as 13 dead, 17 injured and 50 arrested. Already the opposition are talking of Britain's Sharpsville." He added in his diary: "One wonders if the truth will ever be sorted out." The hearing continues.