The chairman of the inquiry into the January 1972 Bloody Sunday killings in Derry has ruled that deceased British soldiers who were involved that day should remain anonymous.
Lord Saville of Newdigate, in a written ruling issued yesterday, stated he did not believe the ruling would hamper the inquiry.
"In the present context it seems to us that the families of those soldiers who have died are justified in feeling, notwithstanding the low [security] threat assessment, that it would simply be unfair for their names now to be singled out. . .
"Coupled to this is the fact that to keep these few names anonymous would make insignificant inroads on the principle of openness, especially in view of the anonymity now being accorded to the vast majority of soldiers.
"Furthermore, although anonymity has caused and is causing delays and administrative difficulties, non-disclosure of deceased soldiers' names will not, as it presently seems to us, hamper the inquiry in its search for the truth . . .
"For these reasons, we now rule that our anonymity ruling of October 1999 relating to living soldiers should extend to include deceased soldiers."
The inquiry is due to start its formal hearings on March 27th.