Doherty/Fleming Inquest: First RUC officer on scene saw a weapon he believed had been left behind by the British Army squad
William Fleming and Daniel Doherty were shot dead the SAS in December 1984
An inquest into the deaths of two Derry men shot dead by the SAS in 1984 has heard that the first RUC officer on the scene saw a weapon he believed had been left behind by the British Army squad involved in the shooting.
Former Chief Inspector Dougie Hogg, who was in charge of the Divisional Mobile Support Unit (DMSU) on the day was giving evidence on the third day of the resumed inquest.
William Fleming (19) from the Waterside and Daniel Doherty (23) from Creggan died in the shooting in the grounds of Gransha Hospital on December 6.
The former RUC officer gave evidence he was 'on stand by' near the Faughan Bridge with other members of his unit and a military liason officer.
He told the Coroner, Mr Justice Ian Huddleston, that for approximately two weeks his unit had been attending Shantallow RUC station 'on a regular basis' as part of an ongoing operation.
On December 6, 1984 he said they received instructions to go to Gransha Hospital grounds following a shooting.
He said when he entered the grounds he met some men in civilian clothes who he was told were military personnel and he allowed them to leave.
Inspector Hogg said he saw two dead bodies and at a distance away from the bodies he saw a Ruger revolver which he assumed was a military weapon.
He told the inquest he made a 'discreet' communication on the RUC network in the hope this would be relayed to Special Branch.
The hearing was told that the weapon was later removed and he had no knowledge after that.
The witness was also asked how often the DMSU would have interacted with the Special Military Unit involved in the Gransha shootings and he said in his five years in the unit he would have to say it was 'infrequently'.
Inspector Hogg said that on arrival at the scene of the shootings he took steps to secure the scene and notify CID, scenes of crime, doctors and the like.
He was asked was that at anyone's instructions or on his initiative and he said he would have done it himself as that was his role.
The hearing continues.