Military witnesses deny any involvement or knowledge of Springhill Massacre killings.
After thirty-seven days of the Springhill inquest families still do not know the identities of the soldiers who killed their loved ones. The inquest has now heard evidence from eleven former British soldiers of the regiment that shot dead the five victims. All of the military witnesses so far have given their evidence anonymously screened from public view and by video link.
After two weeks of hearing former British soldiers giving evidence by video link, the Springhill inquest still does not know the identity of the seven soldiers who killed the five victims. The soldiers who were all members of 1 King Regiment, were known only as soldiers A to G. They claimed they had shot dead gunmen from Corry’s Timberyard where they were based. The 11 military witnesses were also members of 1 King Regiment and most of them were in charge of soldiers during their time in Belfast. Despite this all have claimed that they were not involved in the deaths of the victims, three teenagers, a father of six and the parish priest or that they knew which soldiers under their command fired the fatal shots.
One former commander in 1 King Regiment told the inquest that it was more than likely that it was soldiers from C Company 1 King Regiment that were involved in the shooting dead of the five victims. He had taken command of C Company when the regiment was based in Hong Kong in 1974 and he had heard that soldiers from C Company had shot civilians dead when they were based in Corry’s Timberyard in July 1972. However, he said he did not have any knowledge or details of their involvement and did not know the identities of soldiers.
Most of the evidence given by the military witnesses focused mostly on the command structures and tactics of the British Army during their tour of duty in West Belfast. They also described shooting incidents and intense firing carried out by gunmen at Corry’s Timberyard when they were based there. One former commander stated that they were based in a “hostile environment” where the local community did want a British Army presence in their area. A former Intelligence Officer for 1 King Regiment, who was based in Springfield RUC Station at the time of the incident claimed he knew nothing about five people being killed by his regiment. Another former commander talked about the ‘fog of war’ and how this had clouded everyone’s judgement and recollection of events that occurred in July 1972.
Counsel for the victim’s families cross examined the witnesses at length to try and establish the identities of the soldiers who shot dead their loved ones. Despite the best efforts of the families’ counsel the military witness’ evidence painted a picture and a narrative that it was soldiers that were under constant attack from the IRA and that when they did open fire it was at gunmen who were trying to kill them.
The inquest continues on Monday the 19th February.
