Staff Reporter. Irish News. Belfast. Wednesday, April 10, 2019

A British army officer suggested planting bullets in the pockets of some of those wounded during the Ballymurphy shootings, an inquest heard yesterday.

The claim was made by former army medic Nigel Mumford who was attached to the Second Battalion of the Parachute Regiment during the

shootings in the west Belfast estate in August 1971.

Giving evidence to the inquests of the 10 people killed, Mr. Mumford also drew gasps from the public gallery when he claimed the bereaved relatives now “just want money”.

Speaking via video link from an unknown location, he told Belfast Coroners Court that an officer suggested planting bullets in the clothing of some of the wounded.

“I would not allow it,” he said.

When asked why he did not report what happened, he said he did not want to negatively impact his career.

“It takes a brave man to go up against an officer in the British army,” he said.

The former medic also claimed he saw IRA gunmen armed with machine guns and pistols outside the hall.

He also told the inquest he heard an officer give soldiers a shoot-to-kill

order.

Witnesses had made similar claims to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, which completed in 2010. They said nail bombs found in the pockets of Gerald Donaghy were planted after his death in January 1972, less than six months after the Ballymurphy killings.

A doctor who treated the 17-year-old did not find any nail bombs, however, military photographs showing four nail bombs in his pockets were later submitted to the 1972 Widgery Inquiry.

Lord Saville concluded that while there was no justification for his

killing, the teenager was “probably in possession of the nail bombs” when he was shot. However, witnesses and the Bloody Sunday families remain

adamant the bombs were planted on the victim’s body.