The Bloody Sunday tribunal's decision not to recommend that the legal costs of the next-of-kin at a London hearing should be met from public funds was quashed in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Even though the families had to meet their own costs, they were legally represented at the hearing last year when soldiers won the right to give their evidence in England instead of Derry.
In a reserved judgment yesterday, Mr Justice Kerr directed that the matter should go back to the tribunal for reconsideration in the light of his judgment.
In another Bloody Sunday case, the judge gave his reasons for a decision earlier this month when he refused to set aside leave for a judicial review brought by the Secretary of State over a £250-a-day pay rise for QCs appearing at the tribunal.
The barristers were also awarded £250 an hour for preparatory work.
In addition they were awarded £125 an hour travelling expenses.
The increases were approved by the Senior Costs Judge in London, Judge Hurst, and the Bloody Sunday barristers argued that any move to review the matter should also be heard in London, not Belfast.
The judge granted leave to appeal his judgment.