McGuinness 'lied' inquiry hears

The inquiry sign is removed after evidence finished on Friday

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness has been accused of lying to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry during his evidence about the location of an IRA safe house in Londonderry.

Mr McGuinness's testimony was questioned on Friday during the inquiry's final witness session at the Guildhall.

When he gave evidence last October, Martin McGuinness said he had sought permission of the owners to give the location of an IRA safe house on Bloody Sunday, but this had been refused.

On Friday, the leader of the Provisional IRA in Derry in January 1972 - known as PIRA 24 - said the house at Stanley's Walk in the Bogside was now derelict.

The witness confirmed that members of the IRA met at the house in the aftermath of the shootings.

Asked if he was putting anyone in danger by pointing out the location of the house, he said: "Not at all."

Edwin Glasgow QC, representing most of the soldiers, said this showed that Mr McGuinness had engaged in an elaborate deception.

"I am going to suggest that was an elaborate piece of deceit but, so far as you know, there is no reason at all why the address of that house should not have been frankly identified straight away," he said.

BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY Inquiry announced by Tony Blair on 28 January 1998 Oral hearings at the Guildhall began on 27 March 2000 919 people will have given evidence when evidence ends on 13 February 2004 Opening speech by Counsel to the Inquiry Christopher Clarke QC lasted 42 days - the longest in British legal history More than 1,700 witness statements from soldiers, civilians, religious leaders, intelligence sources, politicians, journalists and experts were taken The inquiry heard from military witnesses at Central Hall in Westminster from September 2002 to October 2003 The cost of the inquiry to date is about £130m By the time it ends, it is expected to have cost £150m Another milestone for inquiry

He said Mr McGuinness had testified on oath that he had gone to the family and asked for permission to identify the house.

On the second day of his evidence, PIRA 24 refused to name the whereabouts of an arms dump in the Bogside, from where he claimed weapons were moved the night before Bloody Sunday.

Mr Glasgow said he would be submitting that he was in contempt of the tribunal but PIRA 24 insisted that the location was not relevant to the inquiry.

The witness said he was certain none of the organisation's quartermasters had given out ammunition or weapons on Bloody Sunday.

"They were well out of the way of the march and I was satisfied that they were well under control," he said.

As the ended his evidence, Lord Saville and counsel for the tribunal thanked all who had participated the inquiry.

He also said no action would be taken against journalists who had refused to disclose to the inquiry the names of soldiers they had interviewed.

Nearly two years ago, Lena Ferguson and Alex Thomson were told by the tribunal they would be reported to the High Court for being in contempt of the tribunal.

Both had refused to name soldiers they had interviewed for Channel 4 news reports.

Relatives' families spoke to the media after evidence ended

However, one potential witness, known as Provisional IRA 9, is to be reported for contempt for refusing to co-operate with the tribunal.

Lord Saville and his two fellow judges, William Hoyt and John Toohey are expected to deliver the findings next year, more than seven years after Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the inquiry.

Since March 2000, more than 900 witnesses have given evidence about the events of 30 January 1972 when 13 civilians were shot dead by members of the Parachute Regiment in the Bogside area of Derry. A 14th person died later.

Legal teams

The inquiry has heard evidence from leading politicians, including the prime minister at the time, Sir Edward Heath, civilians, policemen, soldiers and IRA members.

Inquiry chairman Lord Saville leaves the Guildhall on Friday

The tribunal still has a number of other phases to complete. The legal teams representing the soldiers and the families of those who died will be working on their closing submissions which must be delivered by the middle of next month.

In October, Counsel to the Inquiry, Christopher Clarke, QC, will deliver his closing statement which is expected to last about two weeks.

Only when Mr Clarke has finished that stage of the Tribunal will the three judges sit down to write their report. They are expected to publish their findings in the Spring of next year.

The inquiry has so far lasted more than six years and has cost £130m. The final cost will be in the region of £150m.