A former member of the Provisional IRA today told the Saville Inquiry today that Mr Martin McGuinness had given him orders that there was to be no action on the day of the march.
"PIRA8" had earlier refused to confirm that it was Sinn Féin's chief negotiator who had given the order that there was to be no engagement with the British army on January 30th, 1972.
The ex-paramilitary had said that he was not prepared to name names.
"I am not prepared to name any member of the Provisional IRA on the grounds that it could endanger my life and the lives of my family."
However, at the end of his evidence, he conceded that the member of the command staff who had given the order was Mr McGuinness.
The Sinn Fein Mid Ulster MP has given evidence confirming that he was the second in command of the Derry Brigade on Bloody Sunday and had told volunteers that there was to be no activity on the day of the march.
"PIRA8" told the Inquiry that he was Section Leader of the Bogside unit on Bloody Sunday and had been ordered to patrol the Brandywell area while the march was taking place.
"I met with the three volunteers who were to be on active duty with me that day.
Our section in the Bogside/Brandywell used to have five or six people in it but there was only four of us in the one car patrolling on that day."
He confirmed that they had been allocated four rifles and a pistol, which were kept in the boot of the car.
Having checked the weaponry, he said he put them back, adding at no time were these weapons taken out of the boot.
Mr Edwin Glasgow QC, who represents many of the soldiers, said that British Army radio logs had reported a number of shots being fired in the area they were patrolling.
"PIRA8" said: "I can assure the Inquiry that when I was in the area we were all in a very relaxed state.
"There were no shots fired; no shots returned whilst we were in this area. We did not hear any gunfire nor did anybody bring the fact there was gunfire in that area to our attention. This just simply did not happen."
PA