Doherty/Fleming Inquest: Former RUC officer tells incident was 'a significant enough event'
Derry men William Fleming and Daniel Doherty were shot dead the SAS in December 1984
A former member of the RUC's Divisional Mobile Support Unit (DMSU) told an inquest into the deaths of two Derry men shot dead by the SAS that the incident was 'a significant enough event'.
William Fleming (19) from the Waterside and Daniel Doherty (23) from Creggan were killed on the morning of December 6 1984 after a motorbike they were on was rammed by SAS soldiers and they were shot.
At the inquest into the deaths a former RUC member recalled being in the DMSU that morning.
He told the Coroner Mr Justice Ian Huddleston, that he could not recall a lot about the incident but added that it was significant.
He gave evidence that his particular unit was on stand by in the Drumahoe area outside the city when they received word to go to Gransha Hospital.
The former officer said that the orders would have come from the military liason officer present but once on the scene 'police primacy' would have taken over.
He was asked about a claim by the Inspector in charge of the DMSU that they had been on standby for several weeks prior to the shootings and said he could not recollect that.
The former RUC man said that in his three years with the DMSU he would have worked with the Special Military Unit (SMU) 'infrequently' on possibly three or four occasions.
In reference to the shootings he said when he arrived at the scene he could see two bodies but added that he did not approach them.
The former officer was asked could get recall any briefings after the incident and he said he could not.
Under questioning by Desmond Hutton KC for the Fleming family the witness was asked about other DMSU units in the area at the time.
A statement from a witness identified as PW31 was read to him that stated that he was accompanied by a military liaison officer on December 6, 1984 and he was told to go to Gransha 'as fast as you can'.
This witness stated that as they rushed to the scene the liaison officer said 'you can slow down it is all over.'
The hearing continues.