Former members of the Official IRA may be ready to give evidence to the Bloody Sunday inquiry if they are granted anonymity.
Barristers representing a group of former-IRA members are believed to be preparing to go before the inquiry in Derry on Monday to make the offer for the former members to tell the inquiry about their orders or roles on January 30th, 1972.
Their condition is believed to be that their identities are kept secret. Anonymity has already been given to many army witnesses due to give evidence.
It is known the Inquiry, headed by Lord Saville, has been unhappy at the lack of co-operation so far from the IRA.
During yesterday’s hearing at the Guildhall lawyers for relatives of the Bloody Sunday victims announced an initiative which could break down the so-called "wall of silence" surrounding IRA activity that day.
The development was disclosed along with a plea from all the bereaved and wounded for those withholding information from the Saville Tribunal to come forward immediately and tell the whole truth.
They were "deeply saddened" that some had so far refused to co-operate with the Inquiry.
The development came after a witness refused to name a gunman he saw shooting a pistol inside Derry's Bogside district when Paratroopers arrived there in the aftermath of a civil rights demonstration.
Mr William Harley, 65, who watched events from the window of his home on the top floor of the high-rise Rossville Flats, said he knew who the gunman was through work but was not prepared to name him.
The gunman, said to have fired five or six shots after the first fatal army shooting, was named in another witness statement as Mr Tony Rush - a claim denied by Mr Rush himself, counsel to the inquiry, Mr Christopher Clarke QC, told the hearing.
Mr Harley refused to confirm the allegation, saying: "Perhaps I only think I know who it was. It would be a terrible thing indeed if I were to name the wrong man - as apparently someone has already done."
Tribunal chairman Lord Saville of Newdigate was to consider the "quandary" created Mr Harley's position saying the same problem could arise in evidence about the other shootings - including the soldiers'.
"As well as carrying out a full open complete and thorough inquiry, we must also do it in a fair manner and apply the same standards to all," he said.
He adjourned the matter until the resumption of the hearings on Monday afternoon after Mr Harvey announced the relatives plan to put forward proposals on the broader issue of reluctant witnesses.
PA