Paisley will attend Bloody Sunday Tribunal

DUP leader Ian Paisely is understood to have decided to attend the Bloody Sunday Tribunal in Derry after snubbing the inquiry yesterday.

Last week, Mr Paisley was summoned to give evidence to the tribunal, but he refused to attend yesterday because, he said, he was busy with parliamentary matters.

However, the hardline unionist met his legal advisors last night after the tribunal chairman, Lord Saville, ordered him to show up today or risk a possible prison sentence for contempt.

The Saville Inquiry wants to question Mr Paisley about a counter-demonstration he was due to hold in Derry on the day when British soldiers shot and killed 13 civilians at a Catholic civil rights march in January 1972.

Mr Paisley cancelled his protest at the last minute and tribunal lawyers want to know if he was given any advance warning of the British military operation which swung into action later that day.