Saville Inquiry summons Paisley

Ian Paisley has been summoned to appear at the Bloody Sunday inquiry.

The Democratic Unionist Party leader will be questioned about why he suddenly called off a counter demonstration he had been due to hold in Derry on what became Bloody Sunday.

The inquiry wants to know what, if anything, he had been told in advance of the military operation against the nationalist civil rights march on January 30, 1972.

Christopher Clarke, QC, told the inquiry chairman Lord Saville that Mr Paisley "attends on subpoena or witness summons."

He added it "had not been easy to secure his attendance" and it had not been possible to serve the attendance order until recently and until served it could not be announced he was in fact attending.

Mr Paisley has been called "on the short point as to whether, and if so to what extent, were assurances given and by whom leading to the counter demonstration or meeting being called off."

The DUP leader had given notice in January 1972 that he was to hold a rally outside the Guildhall in Derry - at the same time as the civil rights march was due to parade to the Guildhall.

A huge security operation was mounted in the city and the civil rights march was prevented from proceeding to the Guildhall. In the event the Paisley demonstration never materialised.