McGuinness to testify 'in the Autumn'

Martin McGuinness’s appearance in the witness box in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry will be in the autumn at the earliest, the Sinn Fein MP said tonight.

Mr McGuinness, who was in London visiting relatives of the 13 people killed in the Bloody Sunday shootings, said he was anxious to testify.

However the former Stormont Education Minister acknowledged he would probably have to wait first for the London hearings to be completed.

“At this stage it appears the earliest I will be taking the witness stand will be autumn of this year,” he told PA News.

“The focus of inquiry right now is all the evidence which is being given in London and I will have to wait before I can give evidence in Derry’s Guildhall.

“In my case there are a number of people who are giving evidence in London relating to me. Needless to say I am anxious to take the witness stand.”

Mr McGuinness and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams attended today’s hearing in London, which heard evidence from Colonel Derek Wilford, the commanding officer of the Paratroopers on Bloody Sunday in January 1972.

The Mid Ulster MP claimed the current round of evidence was “critical” to the inquiry.

And he expressed hope that the inquiry would help clear the names of the Bloody Sunday victims.

“We have come to a very important part of the evidence given in London,” he said.

“The inquiry is now dealing with the soldiers’ testimonies and the lawyers are going over it with a fine tooth comb.

“Certainly I am well aware of the reservations the relatives have about this process and they have been able to articulate publicly how the British Ministry of Defence has been less than helpful.

“However I hope the Saville Inquiry does get to the heart of what happened and ensures the victims after 31 years have their names cleared.”