Paratroopers who opened fire on Bloody Sunday did not set out to murder, the inquiry into the killings heard today.
Journalist Mr Brian Cashinella also claimed the military operation was "quite clearly" a dry run for the reclamation of the no-go area of Free Derry - which happened six months later with Operation Motorman.
Then a staff reporter with the British newspaper The Times, Mr Cashinella said today that army briefings in the days running up to the anti-internment demonstration in Derry's Bogside indicated "something rather special" was planned for it.
"It was quite clear that the whole Free Derry idea was unacceptable to the British government in London and they were going to do something about it," he said.
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Giving evidence in the Guildhall in Derry, Mr Cashinella said he saw nothing in the actions of civilians in the city's Bogside that day to merit the shooting dead of 13 men and youths.
Asked about an interview with him in which he backed the "cock-up theory" - that troops had not gone in intending to murder people but ended up doing that - he said those were still his views about the tragedy.
He also told the tribunal Lieut Col Derek Wilford, thecommanding officer of the troops sent in that day, appeared shocked by what had happened when he gave a press briefing afterwards.
"I think he honestly thought there were three or four people injured although I think he suspected that something rather greater had happened - he was being very economical with what he was telling us."
Mr Cashinella also said: "The one comment I got from political figures in London after Bloody Sunday was one of horror. They didn't anticipate anything like this at all. They were amazed and saddened by it."
PA