Inquiry challenged over intelligence reports

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry is to be challenged after it emerged it is considering gathering intelligence reports on civilian witnesses testifying at the hearings.

At least one lawyer is advising future witnesses to stay away from the mammoth probe into the killings in Derry until the row is resolved.

A hearing into the issue, originally scheduled for May 23, has been brought forward to next Thursday.

However it is expected that a witness will challenge the tribunal on the subject, citing Human Rights legislation, once the hearing resumes next Tuesday at the city’s Guildhall. Witnesses are scheduled to give evidence the following day as well.

The suggestion of collating intelligence summaries on the 800-odd civilians giving statements and live evidence to the inquiry is contained in a letter sent on Wednesday by John Tate, the solicitor to the inquiry, to lawyers representing the bereaved and injured.

In the letter, it was claimed the move to gather reports was being considered as one way of overcoming ongoing wranglings over an MI5 and Ministry of Defence bid to restrict classified material at the hearings.

The tribunal, chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate, is considering Public Interest Immunity applications from the two agencies over evidence, including an allegation made by MI5 agent "Infliction" that Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness admitted firing first shot on Bloody Sunday.