At the outset of the resumed hearings, Lord Gifford QC, representing the family of James Wray, who was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, urged soldiers and former soldiers to change their attitude to the inquiry in the light of "the historic events" of the last few days.
He appealed to the military personnel and their representatives to consider whether they really needed to pursue their demand to give their evidence in a location other than Derry "and indeed whether they need claim the anonymity the tribunal has allowed them to claim".
The latest events offered a real prospect of a breakthrough in the peace process. "I feel that we . . . who take part in this process of the tribunal and the inquiry are part of the peace process, for the inquiry is dealing with one of the root causes of the conflict and we have a duty to do what we can to promote truth and reconciliation over Bloody Sunday."
If events proceeded towards a peaceful resolution, "the concerns of the soldiers for their safety may well be much reduced in a new security situation", he said.
Counsel representing various groups of soldiers and former soldiers have said they will press strongly on security and safety grounds that their clients should be allowed to give their evidence somewhere other than Derry. The tribunal has commissioned a number of expert assessments of possible threats they might face by attending.
The tribunal chairman, Lord Saville, said in reply to Lord Gifford yesterday he was sure everybody would take note of what he had said. He added that there had been a delay in obtaining the threat assessments, and it would be several weeks before the tribunal would hear submissions in relation to venues.