A second former member of the Provisional IRA has come forward to give evidence to the Saville Inquiry concerning the organisation's role on Bloody Sunday, it was confirmed tonight.
It is understood he will submit a statement to solicitors to the inquiry backing up claims by Sinn Féin's Mr Martin McGuinness that IRA members were under orders not to fire on the British Army.
The latest member to co-operate with the inquiry is believed to have made an approach earlier this year offering to make a statement. However, the statement was never delivered and he broke off contact.
According to a legal source up to five former Provisionals are now committed to coming forward and their names have been passed to the inquiry.
Their evidence is likely to support two statements already given by Mr McGuinness, who was second command of the IRA in Derry on Bloody Sunday.
The latest move follows efforts in recent weeks by former IRA leaders encouraging ex-members to give evidence.
The Sinn Féin chief negotiator is expected to submit a third statement to the inquiry denying claims by another former IRA man that he provided detonators for nail bombs that were supposed to be used in an attack on Bloody Sunday.
The allegations were made in a statement by Mr Paddy Ward, a former IRA man who has admitted giving nail bombs to eight members of the junior IRA ahead of Bloody Sunday.
Mr Ward claimed Mr McGuinness and another man gave him the detonators for the bombs. He said it was agreed with Mr McGuinness that a nail bomb attack would be carried out at Derry's Guildhall Square on Bloody Sunday, but the plan was aborted.
All the bombs were subsequently retrieved, except those given to 17-year-old Mr Gerry Donaghy, who was later shot dead by British solders.
Last week it was disclosed that fresh intelligence had been given to the Saville Inquiry claiming that Mr McGuinness was armed on Bloody Sunday.
Barrister Mr Gerard Elias QC who represents some of the soldiers told the inquiry there was new evidence that Mr McGuinness, who was second in command of the IRA in the city at the time, was in possession of a Thompson sub-machine gun.
PA