A journalist who investigated Bloody Sunday today claimed two Army officials agreed with him that nail bombs were planted on a teenager killed in the atrocity.
Former BBC producer David Mills was sent to Derry after 13 civil rights marchers were shot dead by Paratroopers in the city in January 1972.
His research for a programme based on the original Widgery tribunal included meeting ex-Ministry of Defence information officer Mr Colin Wallace and a Lieutenant Colonel Overbury.
During questioning at the Saville Inquiry at the Guildhall today, Mr Mills said they discussed Gerald Donaghy, the 17-year-old found with four nail bombs on him after he was shot dead on Bloody Sunday.
The teenager's family have always insisted the devices were put in his pockets after he was killed.
Although neither Mr Wallace or Lt Col Overbury confirmed this outright, Mr Mills insisted they gave him the impression this had happened.
He said: "I would have been testing that possibility with them and from their body language, the way that they responded.
"I am quite sure that I concluded that the strong suspicions that they had been planted were actually shared by the two of them."
Mr Mills was working for the BBC current affairs programme 24 Hours in 1972. After being sent to Derry to prepare a programme on the Widgery Tribunal's findings, he was blocked from interviewing soldiers.
The journalist claimed the Army had been forced to stop any contact with troops because of political intervention. However, Mr Mills said he was given some assistance, including being allowed to socialise with members of the Army's legal team while the inquiry was taking place.
"I remember having dinner with Colin Wallace and Lt Col Overbury on at least one occasion and I got the clear impression from them that they viewed the defence of the Army's position as something of a charade," he recalled.
Angered by the outcome of Widgery, he also told the Guildhall he was shot at himself by a soldier from the city walls. Mr Mills claimed a shot struck the pavement close to his feet during a visit to the Bogside.
The journalist claimed he was later invited out for lunch with an unnamed senior Army officer with whom he discussed the alleged attack.
"He told me that the soldier in question had claimed that I was carrying a weapon and that I had been shot at whilst running across the road from the Bogside Inn," Mr Mills said.
"All of this was completely untrue. It was evident to me that soldiers were prepared to lie about the circumstances surrounding live gunfire to protect themselves.
"I was told that the soldier had been 'spoken to' about the incident." PA