THE Taoiseach is to meet the families of the victims of Bloody Sunday on Thursday.
Arrangements were put in place yesterday for discussions after Mr Bruton received a request for such a meeting from Mr Don Mullan, the author of Eyewitness: Bloody Sunday.
The families sought a meeting after the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, staid at the weekend that an apology from the British government would be for criminal wrongdoing and there was no evidence to support this in the Widgery Report.
Senior sources said the Taoiseach was anxious to hear "at first hand" the views of the families, and there would then be further contact with the British government on the matter.
The Government takes the view that an apology is required and that the families of the Bloody Sunday victims "must be heard". It is only when they receive an apology that they can begin the healing process, the source added.
It is understood that the Government has not yet made its own presentation of evidence to the British government.
Mr Bruton told the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, that the Government would compile any new evidence and forward it to him.