Expectations were high today former Official IRA members were set to approach the Bloody Sunday inquiry.
A lawyer acting for four or five men was believed to be planning to apply for them to give evidence in return for the anonymity already granted to most of the soldiers at the hearing in Derry.
The anticipated move follows a public appeal from the relatives of the 13 men killed in the city on January 30th 1972 for all potential witnesses to come forward, however unpalatable their evidence.
That came after evidence of civilian gunfire in the Bogside on Bloody Sunday and the refusal of one witness to name a gunman he believed he could identify.
There was speculation that the application concerned men alleged to have been members of the Official IRA - the forerunner to the now-dominant Provisionals - in 1972.
An inquiry spokeswoman would only say today: "There will be an application on behalf of for or five unnamed individuals who we believe will be applying for anonymity."
A further application was also to be made by an individual known only as Pin 437, who is alleged to have information about civilian gunfire on Bloody Sunday and has been seeking anonymity since last June, she said.
PA