The first man shot on Bloody Sunday has called on one of two British soldiers responsible to clear his name.
The Saville Inquiry will hear from the first soldier to open fire when he takes the witness stand in London tomorrow.
Identified as Soldier A, the soldier – a member of the First Battalion, the Parachute Regiment – was involved in the first exchange of gunfire on Bloody Sunday.
The inquiry has already heard claims that the Official IRA was involved in this exchange of gunfire with Soldier A and a colleague, Soldier B.
A member of the gun platoon, Soldier A was stationed along with Soldier B at an old factory on Derry's William Street on the afternoon of the civil rights march on January 31 1972.
Two civilians were shot and wounded during the exchange of fire – Damian 'Bubbles' Donaghy and John Johnston.
Mr Donaghy survived, while John Johnston died a number of months later from his injuries, becoming the fourteenth victim of Bloody Sunday.
Soldier A's evidence is crucial as the exchange of shots occurred around 3.55pm on Bloody Sunday – some 12-15 minutes before the Paras entered the Bogside, shooting dead 13 people.
Nationalists claim shots were fired from the factory towards the crowd first, with the Official IRA then returning fire towards the derelict building.
Soldier B is expected to give his evidence towards the end of next month.
Speaking from London last night (Sunday), Damian Donaghy said he wanted Soldier A to clear his name.
"The first shot I heard was the one when I was hit and that was just 60 yards away from A and B," Mr Donaghy said.
"Soldier A told the Widgery Inquiry that John Johnston and myself carried nail bombs.
"Now he has the chance to tell the truth. I have waited 31 years for the truth to come out," he added.
Mr Donaghy travelled to London last night to be present when Soldier A gives his evidence.
In a separate development, it has been claimed – in a briefing document – that the former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, secretly urged the British government to meet the demands of northern Catholics.
In December 1971 Sir Kenneth, then deputy secretary of the Stormont cabinet, held an "off-the-record talk" with Howard Smith, the British government's representative in Northern Ireland.
Mr Smith recounted the meeting in a signal to a senior Home Office official.
He said Sir Kenneth made the move without the knowledge of the Stormont administration.
Sir Kenneth told Mr Smith that no settlement could be reached unless policies were applied that were acceptable to Catholics in the north and also the government in the south.
According to the signal, Sir Kenneth said any resulting stabilising of the situation could lead to a progression in which the north's relationship with the Republic could be examined.
Sir Kenneth suggested that progression could result in the "final question" of unification, according to the signal.
Sir Kenneth could not be contacted for comment last night.
