Up to six former Provisional IRA members are expected to give evidence to the Saville Inquiry in a major U-turn by the republican group.
Legal sources confirmed last night that several people who were in the Provisionals at the time of Bloody Sunday have allowed their names to be submitted to the Saville Inquiry.
The move marks a major triumph for the Bloody Sunday families, who have been pleading with former Provisionals to come forward for more than a year.
Despite earlier appeals by Lord Saville for former paramilitaries to provide evidence, the only confirmed member of the organisation to do so to date was Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.
Mr McGuinness submitted a statement to the Inquiry last year confirming that he was second in the command of the Bogside Provisionals at the time of Bloody Sunday.
Mr McGuinness has already been joined by seven former members of the official IRA who have submitted evidence to the Inquiry.
It is understood an appeal, in which Lord Saville said the absence of other Provisionals would lead the Inquiry to draw certain conclusions, sparked a major debate within the republican movement during the summer.
Families of the Bloody Sunday dead and wounded have consistently appealed to anyone with information about the events of January 30 1972 to make themselves known to the Inquiry. It is believed their appeals – coupled with Lord Saville's warning – lead to a major re-think on the issue by the IRA.
A legal source told the Irish News last night (Monday) the names of several – possibly as many as six – former Provisionals were now in the hands of the Inquiry and it was expected that statements would be sought from them.
It is understood that at least one of the former Provos will not seek anonymity when he gives evidence in Derry's Guildhall.
The legal source said the evidence of the former members would support the testimony given by Mr McGuinness and would contradict evidence from former Fianna member, Paddy Ward. Mr Ward has claimed Mr McGuinness was present when he (as a member of Fianna) was given nail bombs three days before Bloody Sunday. It is understood the former paramilitaries will also claim they were given orders that no guns were to be present on the Bloody Sunday march.
