The posts here, and the comments in the press, seem to imply that the soldiers on the ground fired "out of control" .. which implies a huge number of rounds fired randomly by a large number of soldiers.
Paragraph 166 shows that 107 rounds were fired by 21 soldiers .. an average of about 5 per soldier. 3 soldiers fired double figures , one was 22 , one was 13, one was 12. The majority of the others all fired less than 5, some only 1 or 2.
Whilst I was not there and therefore refuse to cast blame, this is hardly indicative of "out of control", "random firing" as is being implied.
They were very young lads, in a very difficult position, and once "someone" fired the first shot it would be very, very difficult to control ones fear. There but for the grace of god, and wearing the wrong colour uniform, went a very large nummber of folks. I did many an Op Banner run, and the troops we carried all just looked young and scared. I'm hardly surprised at their reaction, if I'm at all honest.