Rory Mooney, 13 Nov
A former Special Branch officer has told the inquest into the deaths of
two Derry men shot dead by the SAS said there was a 'rigid need to
know' culture within that organisation.
The witness known as PW1 was giving evidence in the inquest of William
Fleming (19) from the Waterside and Daniel Doherty (23) from Creggan
who were shot dead by the SAS in the grounds of Gransha Hospital on
December 6, 1984.
The witness said he would have been in charge of RUC Special Branch in
Derry holding the rank of Detective Inspector.
His journal recorded that in the two weeks leading up to the shootings
he had seven meetings with the Military Liaison Officer but he said he
could not recall any specific information about this particular
operation.
His journal also recorded that during the same period he was working 13
hour days but repeated that he could not recall any details.
The court heard that the witness said prior to their deaths he had no
details about the two deceased men.
He was asked by Fiona Doherty KC about the number of times he would
have worked with the Specialist Military Unit (SMU) and said there was
'a close relationship' between Special Branch and the British Army
unit.
The witness said that during the period it would have been 'quite a
lot' but due to the sheer volume of occasions he couldn't give a
figure.
He described how the system worked once a threat had been identified
and said Special Branch would have tasked the SMU to come up with a
plan.
The witness said that once this plan was developed it would be brought
back to Special Branch and the military unit would be deployed.
PW1 said that while the RUC were in command overall but not necessarily
in control on the ground.
The former Special Branch officer was asked by Andrew Moriarity for the
Fleming family if terms such as 'neutralusing' targets were ever used
and he said it wasn't.
He was asked was consideration given to the risk to life either to the
target or the perpetrators and said when the SMU or DMSU was deployed
such consideration had to be made.
PW1 said that what actually happened on the ground was 'dynamic' he
could not comment on as it depended on those involved in the
operation.
The Special Branch officer was asked about the attitude towards the
shootings and Mr Moriarity asked about a report there was 'a piss up'
after the incident.
The witness took exception to the word 'piss up' but accepted that
there was a 'celebratory' mood after what was described as 'a totally
successful operation leading to the deaths of two PIRA gunmen.'
It was suggested by the barrister that despite the Special Branch
officer referring to preserving life of both targets and perpetrators
there was 'no more interest in preserving the life of Daniel Doherty
and William Fleming.'
When pressed for an answer the witness said 'I have no further comment
to make.'
The inquest continues.