The controversy surrounding the Bloody Sunday inquiry has intensified as families of the 14 victims reacted with anger to the support of the British Secretary for Defence, Mr George Robertson, for the soldiers concerned.
The 17 members of the Parachute Regiment are claiming the right to anonymity in the inquiry into the 1972 killings, on the grounds that they would be put in danger if their names were revealed. It has emerged that the Ministry of Defence is to pay their legal fees, citing a duty of care for its personnel.
Lord Saville's inquiry ruled that those involved in the Bloody Sunday shooting could not automatically be granted anonymity en bloc. However, it agreed that the soldiers could apply for anonymity individually.
The spokesman of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign, Mr Tony Doherty, said he found the Ministry's actions very disturbing.
"What has happened is that the British establishment has woken up to the fact that the inquiry is a very serious concern. They have therefore strategically chosen an issue that they think they can win."
Mr Doherty, whose father, Paddy Doherty, was killed on Bloody Sunday, said "It is an attempt to undermine the Saville inquiry in the public mind."
The Ministry of Defence has described the allegations as "complete nonsense". A spokesman, Mr Robin Banbarji, said: "The inquiry was set up to be independent and we respect that very much.
"Any attempt to suggest that we are trying to water down the process is false. We didn't suggest that they shouldn't give evidence . . .this is not an attempt to jeopardise the course of the inquiry."
Mr Doherty said the Ministry's arguments in support of anonymity were puzzling, as he believed the information was already in the public domain.
There have been repeated calls from Conservative MPs and high-ranking military personnel in recent days for British government intervention to protect the troops concerned. Former Lieut Col Derek Wilford, who commanded the Parachute Regiment on Bloody Sunday, has said he would go to prison for contempt of court rather than expose his men to any threat.
Lieut Col Wilford has insisted he will refuse to attend the hearing unless his men are granted anonymity. "This is not really a tribunal - they are putting us on trial. It is some sort of political expediency", he said.