Witness statements which may identify former British soldiers and civilians called to give evidence in person to the Bloody Sunday inquiry will be published on the Internet, the inquiry confirmed yesterday.
The statements will be published as part of the daily transcripts of the inquiry proceedings. However, former soldiers and civilians who provide witness statements to the solicitors acting for the inquiry team but are not called to give evidence in person will not have their statements published.
Seventeen former members of the Parachute Regiment are claiming the right to anonymity at the inquiry into the 1972 killings, on the grounds that their lives will be put in danger if their names are released.
Soldiers may apply individually for anonymity. So far, 380 statements have been taken from former soldiers, with another 70 expected within the next five weeks.
Acknowledging that some soldiers have expressed fears for their safety, a spokesman for the inquiry said it had not ruled out holding sessions outside Derry.
An appeal against the inquiry's decision to deny automatic anonymity will be heard in the Divisional Court in London next Thursday and Friday.