BRITISH Paratroopers yesterday claimed that soldiers showed “great restraint” during operations in Belfast in 1971 when they shot dead 10 unarmed civilians in a three-day killing spree.

A soldier with the codename M506 who was a private in B Company 2 Para, during the introduction of internment gave testimony at the Ballymurphy inquiry.

He claimed that soldiers had been subjected to rioting and provocations for 16 hours, however had not fired their weapons.

M506 claimed the British army would not have opened fire from their Henry Taggart base if they had not been fired at first.

“Paras weren’t as bad as people make out,” he said. “The guys didn’t come here on a killing mission.”

This suggestion follows Thursday’s shocking revelation that British soldiers had a kitty with the cash collected given to the winner of a sick competition over who could make the first “confirmed kill.”

Ten people were shot dead including a priest giving the last rites to a dying man as British soldiers went on the rampage in the Ballymurphy area of West Belfast in August 1971.

Families of the victims have led a dignified campaign for truth and justice in the face of smears and a cover-up by the British state.

The inquest continues.