Former MP 'not a liar'

The tribunal is entering the final stages of hearing evidence

Former civil rights leader and Stormont MP Ivan Cooper has rejected a claim that he is a "fantastic liar," the Bloody Sunday Tribunal has heard.

The claim was made in a statement to the inquiry by George McEvoy, a former businessman in Londonderry.

Mr Cooper denied telling the Sunday Times that Mr McEvoy and Martin McGuinness, now of Sinn Fein, were planning to shoot at the Army on Bloody Sunday.

Mr Cooper also said on Tuesday that he did not have a reputation for telling tales and had not exaggerated anything about events on the day.

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

At the time, Mr Cooper, a Protestant, was the SDLP MP for Mid Ulster and a member of civil rights group Derry Citizens Action Committee.

A document from the Sunday Times records Mr Cooper claiming that Mr McGuinness and a number of other men were planning to fire at soldiers in William Street, but had to run off as the Army moved into the Bogside.

On Monday, Mr Cooper told the inquiry that the report was a "total fabrication" and that he had never been interviewed by anyone from the Sunday Times.

Sessions

The inquiry is to continue its sessions at the Guildhall in Londonderry for a number of weeks until all the remaining witnesses have been heard.

When the oral evidence ends, the inquiry will move into the closing stages including submissions and the closing speech by counsel to the inquiry.

These closing stages are likely to last for some months, after which the tribunal will retire to write their report.

Publication of the report will take place towards the end of 2004 at the earliest.

Lord Saville of Newdigate and the Commonwealth judges accompanying him on the Bloody Sunday inquiry began their work nearly four years ago.

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.