Saville seeks reporters' notes on McGuinness

Lawyers acting for the Saville Inquiry have served subpoenas on two journalists for more information surrounding Sinn Féin chief…

Lawyers acting for the Saville Inquiry have served subpoenas on two journalists for more information surrounding Sinn Féin chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness's role in the IRA on Bloody Sunday, it emerged tonight.

Sunday TimesNorthern Editor Liam Clarke and his wife Kathryn Johnston have been ordered to hand over transcripts and hand-written notes of interviews with eyewitnesses who gave accounts of Mr McGuinness's activities published in their book "Martin McGuinness from Guns to Government".

But they have raised objections to handing over some of the material on the grounds that it could identify their sources.

The pair have already supplied material based on interviews with former IRA man Paddy Ward, who has issued a statement to the inquiry, claiming that Mr McGuinness supplied detonators for nailbombs to be used in attack on the Guildhall in Derry on Bloody Sunday.

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Mr McGuinness, who strenuously denies Mr Ward's claims, is due to give evidence to the inquiry confirming he was second in command of the IRA in the city during Bloody Sunday and that the organisation ordered its members not to fire on troops.

Counsel for the Inquiry, Christopher Clarke QC, said the Tribunal had sought the transcript and shorthand notes from an interview with a person known under the pseudonym "Des Clinton".

PA