The Ulster Unionist Party's security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, has said he is opposed to any new inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday. It was confirmed yesterday that the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, is considering ordering a review of the incident in which 14 people were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment in Derry in 1972. She is considering representations from different groups.
In a BBC interview, the Northern Ireland Office minister, Lord Dubs, said Dr Mowlam was looking at evidence given to her by the Irish Government and by the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume.
Mr Maginnis said he believed a new inquiry would not "serve any useful purpose" but might be seen as "another payment of the Danegeld to the IRA, another ransom in order to keep them at the table, and that would be wrong". He said he had "an open mind about apologies as far as mistakes and errors are concerned".
Mr Maginnis said, however, that he would be worried about the "knock-on effects" of an apology, and that it appeared strange that new evidence was appearing after 25 years.
"If there is any idea of having an inquiry, then the Ulster Unionists would be keen to reciprocate with an inquiry into the activities of Charles Haughey and other Ministers in the 1969-1970 period," he said.
Mr Maginnis described as "helpful" a comment by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, that he didn't expect to see a united Ireland in his lifetime.
"I think that if he now said, nor will there be any surreptitious entrance to that whole united Ireland through the back door, that it would be equally helpful," he said.
In Derry, a spokesman for the relatives of the victims of Bloody Sunday has said the families wanted to meet the Northern Ireland Secretary to again present their case for a full inquiry into the killings.
Mr Tony Doherty said reports that the British government was considering apologising to the families of the victims, as well as setting up a group to review the killings, would not be acceptable to the families.