The officer commanding British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday today said he could not recall if any prior consideration was given to the danger facing innocent bystanders if shooting broke out.
Lieutenant Colonel Derek Wilford also denied there was a massive breakdown in army chiefs' understanding of what was happening when he sent troops into the nationalist Bogside area.
He told the Saville Inquiry that brigade headquarters was aware at all times where his men were on January 30th, 1972 when 13 civil rights marchers were shot dead by soldiers. A 14th man died later.
Mr Arthur Harvey QC, representing most of the families of the dead and injured, asked: "Colonel, was there any consideration given at the co-ordinating conference, in a structured way, to the danger that might occur to innocent bystanders if shooting developed?"
"I do not recall that there was," Col Wilford replied.
Mr Harvey asked if the consideration that innocent bystanders could be shot was not structurally built into army plans, but left to the discretion of soldiers on the ground.
"Oh, I believe it was built in," replied Col Wilford.
Mr Harvey asked: "Colonel, does it not appear that there was a massive breakdown in understanding of brigade as to what was happening on the ground?"
"There was not a massive breakdown at all. As I have tried to explain, the brigade hand over to a battalion, in this case to me, to conduct an arrest operation," Col Wilford replied.