A military witness has told the Saville Inquiry that he was 99.9% sure that he did not hear any gunfire before the Paras entered the Bogside on Bloody Sunday.
A former soldier – identified as INQ 666 – told the inquiry that he was a lance-corporal in the motor transport section of the Royal Green Jackets regiment in 1972 and was drafted into Derry on Bloody Sunday.
INQ 666 said he parked his vehicle at an army barrier at William Street and remained in the personnel carrier as Paras moved through the checkpoint.
"About one minute after the Paras had climbed over barrier 14 (at William Street), I heard shots fired; it was the sound of SLR fire.
"I could hear the gunfire pretty well because the doors and windows of my Pig were open. I have always thought that the Paras opened up first. I had not heard any rifle or other weapon fired before the Paras climbed over barrier 14 and entered the Bogside. I am 99.9% sure of that," INQ 666 said.
He could not recall hearing any machine gun or pistol fire. Neither could he recall hearing rubber bullet guns or nail bombs or petrol bombs.
Lawyer for the majority of soldiers Edwin Glasgow QC asked the witness if he heard a number of shots which most accept were fired at William Street 20 minutes before the Paras entered the Bogside but the former soldier said he did not.
He said this may have been because of the noise of a riot going on at the army barrier at that time.
