McGuinness: I want to uncover Bloody Sunday massacre

Martin McGuinness today met with lawyers in advance of his testimony to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

He said: "The British perpetrated a massacre in Derry. I want that truth to be uncovered. I intend to play a full part in that process."

Mr McGuinness, the MP for Mid Ulster who has already admitted being the IRA’s second in command on the day British paratroopers shot dead 13 men on January 1972, is expected to give his evidence before the end of the year.

He has handed over a draft submission but his meeting today was part of the process in which a more definitive statement will be drawn up.

He said: "I very much welcome today’s meeting. I have made it clear that I want to give evidence to the Inquiry and to do so at the earliest possible time. Today’s meeting is another step towards that."

The Sinn Fein Minister’s statement which was faxed to the Saville Inquiry at the end of last month said that the IRA decided not to retaliate after the shootings as it feared it was being drawn into a trap by the British Army.

He added the organisation wanted the Paratroop Regiment to remain under the full glare of the media in the aftermath of the atrocity.

The Stormont Education Minister said he had taken part in the civil rights march on the day of the tragedy.

He has vehemently denied claims made by an MI5 agent known as "Infliction" who alleged in 1984 that he had admitted firing the shot that precipitated Bloody Sunday.

The agent claimed that the young IRA commander had fired off rounds from a Thompson sub-machine gun from the top of the Rossville Flats in the Bogside area of the city.

The inquiry is currently considering a bid by MI5 to have a public interest immunity certificate put on evidence given by the agent.

In earlier evidence sessions, a number of witnesses have described seeing Mr McGuinness near Free Derry Corner just after the shootings. He was reported to have been shocked after being told of the death toll.

Mr McGuinness has been challenged by unionists to "tell the whole truth" about his role in the IRA’s notorious Derry Brigade.

Earlier this month, he survived a vote of no confidence in the Assembly proposed by the Democratic Unionist Party.

First Minister David Trimble said after his statement was made public:

"I hope he also tells us what he did on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well and gives us some information about the 29 murders committed by the IRA in Derry when he said he was a leading member."

Lawyers have not yet decided when Mr McGuinness should give evidence but it is thought likely that it will not be until the inquiry resumes in September after the summer break.

The Saville Inquiry was set up by British Prime Minister Tony Blair in January 1998 and began its oral hearings in March of last year.