Two senior figures in the republican movement visited former IRA members to warn them not to give evidence to the Saville Inquiry, it has been alleged.
The allegation was made in a statement submitted to the Saville Inquiry by writer, Kathryn Johnston who with her husband, Sunday Times journalist Liam Clarke, co-wrote a biography about Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.
With Mr Clarke, Ms Johnston published the controversial biography Martin McGuinness – From Guns to Government in 2001.
As a result of allegations in the book – a chapter of which is devoted to Bloody Sunday – the two writers were contacted by the Saville Inquiry and asked to submit statements.
The statements have now been submitted but are yet to be tested by lawyers for the Bloody Sunday families and lawyers representing the former soldiers of the Parachute Regiment.
In her statement, Ms Johnston answers questions put to her by solicitors acting on behalf of the Saville Inquiry.
For the greater part, the questions relate to incidents and allegations mentioned in the biography. One such question relates to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.
Ms Johnston states: "I have been asked what I know about the persistent rumours that former senior IRA figures including the OC were 'visited' by current senior IRA men after McGuinness's announcement that he was going to give evidence to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in an attempt to prevent them giving their own version of events."
Mr McGuinness has submitted a statement in which he admits to being second in command of the IRA's Bogside division in 1972. He is expected to give evidence in November this year.
In reply to the inquiry lawyers, Ms Johnston claims to have evidence from sources that two senior members of the republican movement – whom she names – carried out the visits "to prevent people giving evidence".
She also states: "I also have evidence that a senior IRA man in 1972 was asked recently, after McGuinness announced that he was going to give evidence, to meet a third party.
"He was then questioned by (name withheld by the Irish News) about his intentions and basically told to keep quiet. I will not disclose my source for this."
Since the Saville Inquiry started hearing oral evidence in March 2000 tribunal chairman, Lord Saville, has made a number of appeals for members of the IRA to come forward.
Before the inquiry went into summer recess, Lord Saville renewed his appeal.
"I must also say that there are a number of areas in which evidence that ought to be provided is still absent," he said.
"At the end of the day we shall have to reach a judgment on all the evidence that we have heard.
"But, in reaching that judgment, we may also have to take into account the fact, if turns out to be one, that people who could have given evidence have chosen not to, since that fact may have a significance of its own," he said.
