Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SQUADDIE: PARAS WERE PSYCHOS DODGING JAIL
Inquest told B Company was ‘out of control’
SOME members of the Parachute Regiment were “psychopaths” who shot anything that moved, a former soldier told an inquest yesterday.
The hearing into the killings at Ballymurphy in West Belfast heard anyone on the streets was considered to be associated with the IRA.
A new inquest at Belfast Coroner’s Court is examining the deaths of 10 civilians, including a mother of eight, across three days in August 1971.
The ex-serviceman, known as M597, alleged some within the Parachute Regiment had evaded prison by joining up.
Breaking down in the witness box, he said several “revelled” in what had happened and congratulated each other afterwards. He added: “Rogue soldiers were out of control, killing people on the street and knowing they’d be protected.
“They were saying anything out there that moves, we consider them to be in or associated with the IRA, and for that alone they could be or should be shot.”
He claimed the conversation took place as three or four bodies lay nearby.
He said he was told officers in charge of B Company had “lost control” and alleged the Paras had no feeling or respect for the dead.
M597 added: “It was a joke. Literally it could be anything, not four human beings, it could be four anything. They seemed to think they could do anything and get away with it.” While he paid tribute to some good and professional soldiers, he said: “There were also psychopaths in there, people who were dangerous to have around. They were on a high and enjoying it.”
He told the inquest he could not recall any briefing or debriefing after the killings.
M597 also claimed he was congratulated by servicemen after being investigated over a separate shooting of a petrol bomber and told how lucky he was to have a “notch on my rifle”. Nothing came of the probe and he added: “In fact, it was a pat on the back for what I had done.” The inquest continues.