THE BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY/Day 259: The British army's most senior surviving member from the Bloody Sunday operation was told to stop discussing the event just 24 hours after the shootings, an inquiry heard today.
Gen Sir Robert Ford, who was present as an observer during the 1972 civil rights march, said he had been "disturbed" by the tragic events which unfolded.
But the general refused to comment, at the Bloody Sunday inquiry sitting in London, on a suggestion that something had gone "drastically wrong" during the operation.
Thirteen unarmed men were killed on January 30th, 1972, during the march.
Gen Ford, being questioned by Mr Arthur Harvey QC, said: "On the Tuesday [following the shootings on the Sunday] I was not in any way concerned, at that time, with what happened on Bloody Sunday."
The general said he was instead told to face the problems that were now going to be caused as a result of the shootings.
Asked about his initial feelings on learning the extent of casualties, he said: "Everyone was very disturbed indeed. We wanted to find out the truth. My staff worked through the night.
"On Monday I was told to stop discussing it and not mention it or interrogate or question any staff."
Gen Ford went on: "I am sure I was extremely disturbed, and it was obvious to me that there had to be a full inquiry to find out what had gone wrong."
Pressed further on that answer, the general was asked whether that meant he believed something had gone wrong with the operation.
He replied: "I am not certain. But I did have very many worrying nights during my term in Northern Ireland. . . A lot of occasions, some of which became more important than Bloody Sunday."
Pressed further by Mr Harvey, who said that something went "drastically wrong", the general replied: "I cannot remember . . . I cannot remember."
The 78-year-old general explained that he was told not to speak of events concerning Bloody Sunday at the time because of the impending Widgery inquiry.
He also repeated denials that as an observer he issued instructions about how the military operation was to be carried out during the demonstrations.
He insisted that he had only heard three shots being fired.
He said: "I cannot explain it, sir, but obviously that was what I thought at the time.
"It would have been very stupid of me to say only three shots were fired when I heard more, when we all knew very soon afterwards that more than three shots had been fired. For some reason, I only heard what I recorded."