Bloody Sunday campaigners declared themselves prepared for "the long haul" last night after further indications that the British government is resisting pressure for a new independent inquiry.
A delegation led by Mr John Hume MP and the Mayor of Derry, Mr Martin Bradley, was at the House of Commons to hear Mr Tony Blair insist that "no options have been ruled out" in London's consideration of fresh material submitted by the Government and by the relatives of the 14 people who died on January 30th, 1972, in highly controversial circumstances.
But as the Derry delegation lobbied MPs for a fresh inquiry, senior British sources told The Irish Times: "There won't be another Widgery" as a result of the ongoing review of the evidence.
Apparently encouraged by the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, senior Labour MPs had previously been confident the government would agree to a "paper review" of the evidence by a small panel, probably headed by a senior member of the Bar.
But, casting doubt on the likelihood of that, the sources suggested that some form of apology remained the most probable outcome. That alternative was again strongly rejected by a spokesman for the relatives, Mr Gerry Duddy, who said an apology was of no interest.
Mr Duddy said he hoped the British government would devote the effort to the issue promised by Mr Blair's Commons answer to a question from Mr Hume. Unperturbed by reports that the British response might not be known until the new year, Mr Duddy said: "We've waited for 25 years. We don't want it rushed only to get the wrong answer. If it takes longer we're prepared to go for the long haul, because we're not going away anywhere."
Some campaigners privately raised the possibility that the British government might consider a form of inquiry which would separate the issues of "justice and truth" from "recrimination and retribution".
While many of the families, and the wider nationalist community, would expect that any reversal of the Widgery tribunal findings would open the door to possible prosecutions, the possibility is being canvassed that a format for an inquiry to establish the truth about Bloody Sunday could "take retribution out of the equation".
Pressure for an inquiry was building in Labour ranks at Westminster last night, with 53 MPs having signed a Commons motion calling on Mr Blair "to repudiate all the findings of the Widgery tribunal and to recognise that having a full examination of all the relevant evidence, including the army's radio traffic, the fresh medical evidence and unexamined written statements of witnesses, is the best way to exorcise the bitter memories of 25 years."
In the Commons the SDLP leader, Mr Hume, asked Mr Blair: "Would you agree that it is both essential and in the public interest to establish the full truth of what happened on the streets of Derry on Bloody Sunday 1972, particularly in the light of the evidence now supplied by the Irish Government? And would you tell us what steps you are prepared to take to establish that truth?"
The Prime Minister replied: "The government recognises the pain and distress of the events of January 30th, 1972, and recognises, what's more, that they're still there after 25 years or more."
He went on: "There has been material submitted by the relatives and by the Irish Government. It is extensive and it is detailed. We will consider it fully and it is being examined by officials now. No options have been ruled out but all the material must be fully examined first. When it has been fully examined and conclusions reached we will announce them."