Bishop Daly rejects hidden bodies claim by soldier

The former Bishop of Derry today rejected claims that British soldiers discovered bodies hidden in unmarked graves 48 hours after Bloody Sunday.

Dr Edward Daly dismissed the allegation contained in the written statement of a soldier who was in the Derry at the time of the shootings.

Certainly there was no threat posed to the army at the time they opened fire, none. I don't think there was any justification for it Former Bishop of Derry Dr Edward Daly

The inquiry into the shootings heard that the soldier - known only as 1766 - claimed troops were ordered to dig up seven or eight fresh unmarked graves in a cemetery in Derry two days after Bloody Sunday where they found bodies of men, all apparently shot dead.

Mr Michael Mansfield QC read from the soldier's written statement to the inquiry, which said: "I do not know what happened to the bodies after we found them. None of them were in coffins. We were close to the end of our tour and we really did not care what happened next."

The soldier said Paratroopers who opened fire in the city's Bogside on January 30th, 1972 got the blame for the deaths "and we had got away with it".

Thirteen Catholic men are known to have been shot dead in the military operation which followed a large civil rights demonstration, but lawyers for most of the soldiers allege there may have been up to 34 other "hidden" casualties including IRA gunmen and bombers.

But Bishop Daly rejected the suggestions out of hand.

Asked by Mr Mansfield about the allegations in 1766's statement, Dr Daly said: "The part of our culture is to have a grave to go to and to give respects to those who are dead.

"It is unthinkable, it is a figment of the imagination that the type of thing described by this witness could have taken place. I do not think it is credible."

Dr Daly, who retired as Bishop of Derry in 1993 after suffering a stroke, became famous worldwide after Bloody Sunday when he was captured on film leading a party carrying the dead or dying Jack Duddy (17) to safety.

The teenager was probably the first fatality of the day, gunned down in the car park of the Rossville Flats as crowds of people - including the then curate, Fr Daly - fled the troops advancing into the area.

Dr Daly delivered his evidence in the Guildhall, in Derry, in a strong clear voice but began to show signs of distress when he recounted the final moments of the youth running close to him.

The shot which felled the youth came from behind, he said.

He claimed he was unaware of the army coming under fire before they shot the teenager and added: "Certainly there was no threat posed to the army at the time they opened fire, none. I don't think there was any justification for it."

Bursts of gunfire made him run for cover but when he became aware of the young casualty still lying in the middle of the car park facing him, his shirt bloodied, he ventured out to his aid waving a handkerchief and administered the Last Rites.

Dr Daly then saw a "civilian" appear around the corner of a house and "suddenly produce a gun from his pocket" and fire two or three shots around the corner towards the soldiers, who seemed to be oblivious to his presence.

The party tending to Mr Duddy "shouted at him to go away" fearful that the troops may mistakenly believe the shots were coming from their direction.

He added: "I don't think the soldiers were aware of his presence. I think if they had been aware of his presence, I think they would have riddled him, certainly the mood they were in that particular afternoon."

Dr Daly began to show signs of strain as attention moved to the removal of Mr Duddy from the car park and the famous television pictures of him waving his bloodied handkerchief ahead of the group carrying the slumped body of the youth were played to the chamber.

His voice occasionally cracked with emotion when he recalled: "I was not sure if Jackie Duddy was dead or not. We just decided it was imperative to get him to hospital. I don't know when Jackie Duddy died."

Under examination, he said "on no occasion" did he remember a march being used to mount gun attacks but admitted that gunmen had taken advantage of riots to fire at the Army.

But he added: "I must make a very clear distinction, that I never experienced a demonstration of any kind being used as an excuse for sniping. Just riots took place."

Asked about the "men of violence" in the city, he said: "I would point out to you that the men of violence were not just civilians. And men of violence on that particular day, certainly, were those in uniform."

Dr Daly completed his evidence after nearly three hours in the witness box, to applause from the public gallery.

PA