Secret hearing sought for security agents

Thirteen civilians were killed on Bloody Sunday

Lawyers for the security services are to ask the Bloody Sunday inquiry for a secret hearing for three of its serving and former officers when they give their evidence.

They will argue on Monday that they need the arrangements in order to protect the identity of one of its agents, code-named Infliction.

He has claimed that Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, told him that he fired the first shot on Bloody Sunday.

The Saville Inquiry is examining the events of 30 January 1972 when 13 civilians were shot dead by British army soldiers during a civil rights march in the city. A 14th person died later.

Martin McGuinness: Denies claims that he fired the first shot

Under the proposed arrangements, lawyers for the families, the soldiers and Mr McGuinness would not be allowed into the hearing chamber during Infliction's testimony.

The families of those killed will oppose the application and barristers for the soldiers are also expected to say they are not happy with the proposed arrangements.

On Friday, MI5 representatives held a private meeting with the Bloody Sunday tribunal in London.

Infliction is said to have been a former senior member of the IRA.

In April last year, a document from Infliction said Mr McGuinness, now the education minister in Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive, appeared to have it on his conscience that he had fired the shot which led to the civilians being killed.

'Look stupid'

The Sinn Fein MP firmly rejected the allegation.

Former MI5 officer David Shayler cast doubt on the reliability of the information, saying the informer was "terminated" shortly afterwards when MI5 chiefs were made to "look stupid" having relied on faulty information he had supplied.

Lord Saville of Newdigate and the commonwealth judges accompanying him on the Bloody Sunday inquiry began their work nearly four years ago. They are not expected to report back until 2004.

The Bloody Sunday inquiry was established in 1998 by Prime Minister Tony Blair after a campaign by families of those killed and injured.

They felt that the Widgery Inquiry, held shortly after the shootings, did not find out the truth about what happened on Bloody Sunday.