Bloody Sunday leaks

Video link https://youtu.be/Yvc852TztSs

Bugged telephone conversation from Victoria Barracks, Derry on Bloody Sunday 1972.

                Bloody Sunday

Leaked calls by the British Army

First call, between two officers.

First Officer (Alan):

Bombadier Phillips is here, what does he want?

Second Officer:

I don’t know, what does he want?

First Officer:

Emm… look it’s presented to have been a hell of a sort out.

The whole thing’s in chaos.

Second Officer:

Yeah, obviously.

First Officer:

I think it’s gone badly wrong in the Rossvilles… the doctor’s just been up the hospital and they’re pulling stiffs out there as fast as they can get them out.

Second Officer:

There’s nothing wrong with that Alan.

First Officer:

Well, there is because they’re the wrong people. There’s about nine, between nine and fifteen killed by the paratroopers in the Rossville area. They’re all women, children fuck knows what, and they’re still going up there.

I mean their pigs [Saracens] are just full of bodies, and there’s a 3-tonner up there with bodies in.

Second Officer:

Yeah, it’s alright. Stiffs all over the place and Mount.

First Officer:

Mount’s involved is he?

Second Officer:

Mount was down there, yeah. Yeah fucking [indecipherable]

 First Officer:

But the padre’s a bit upset, he’s going up to see the commander about all the ill-treatment.

Second Officer:

General Ford?

First Officer:

Yeah.

Second Officer:

He was lapping it up.

First Officer:

Who was?

Second Officer:

Ford.

First Officer:

Was he?

Second Officer:

Yeah, he said it was the best thing he’d seen for a long time.

First Officer:

Interesting isn’t it?

Second Officer:

“Well done 1^st Para,” he said. “Look at them, 24 million dollars.”

First Officer:

Good excellent.

Second Officer:

And he said you know this is what should happen.

First Officer:

Yeah.

Second Officer:

He said we were far too passive and, I’ll tell you later.

First Officer:

Yeah okay, bye bye.

Second Officer:

Ciao.

Second call, between an officer (Tony) and a journalist (Max Hastings) for the BBC.

Max Hastings:

Hello Press?

Officer Tony:

Hello, I’m Tony [indecipherable] yes?

Hastings:

Oh sorry to bother you, Max Hastings at BBC.

Officer:

Hello, Max. are you here around?

Hastings:

Very much so, yes.

Officer:

Hmmmm,

Hastings:

I was just going to ask what the latest score was?

Officer:
Ummm… Yeah. We just are referring everybody off to Northern Ireland [HQ] now. Ah, we are working out.

Hastings:

No, no no no, I won’t say what- by the latest score I don’t just mean by how many have been killed. Let’s say, just how many soldiers have been killed?

Officer:

None.

Hastings:

No soldiers?

Officer:

No.

Hastings:

And civilian casualties, what is the situation in Bogside as far as you know?

Officer:

At this moment?

Hastings:

Yeah.

Officer:

Ummm.

Hastings:

Are the Parachute regiment still there? In there?

Officer:

Oh no. they were only in for a short while.

Hastings:

Yeah.

Officer:

A short devastating moment. Umm, no all is quiet now in the Bogside.

Hastings:

All is quiet now yeah? And there’s been no shooting now for what? Several hours?

Officer:

That’s true.

Hastings:

And what is the sort of holding the line, William street and all the rest of it, or are they even pulled off there?

Officer:

Oh, I think that’s all come down now.

Hastings:

All come down?

Officer:

Let me just check a moment, Max. just hang on a moment.

Max the troops are all withdrawing to their normal Londonderry deployments.

Hastings:

Yeah.

Officer:

The reserve forces have been now withdrawn.

Hastings:

Yeah.

Officer:

And that there have been no incidents in the last couple of hours.

Hastings:

No incidents for two hours?

Officer:

That’s right.

Hastings:

Is there any- you say that Northern Ireland [HQ] is working out all the details of how

Officer:

Northern Ireland [HQ] ummm  [indecipherable] I’ve just been ringing up Northern Ireland [HQ], I’m from there. Just ringing up and saying “Hello what’s happening?” Because we’re referring people along there, and I was interested to know what sort of answer they’re getting.

Hastings:

Oh well well. And the Bogside as far as you know is quote quiet unquote?

Offcier:

Uh, correct.

Hastongs:

Good God [chuckling laughter] alright.

Officer:

How long you here for Max?

Hastings:

Umm several weeks I’m afraid. But we’re just trying to get an interview with your General, General Ford tomorrow.

Officer:

Yeah, were you all up with us today?

Hastings:

Yes we were, but we’ve now returned to Belfast.

Officer:

You’re in Belfast now?

Hastings:

Yeah, but uh we may have to come back to Derry if our soldiers carry on shooting people at this remarkable rate.

Officer:

Ah hahahaha, Well yes, I’m from Belfast myself and I think it’s entirely a good trend myself.

Hastings:

Well it’s something I would’ve thought that the Bogside might take a dim view of. But em anyway many thanks.

Officer:

Okay then.

Hastings:

Alright, bye