The original Bloody Sunday tape of alleged conversations between British soldiers on the evening of the shootings, believed to have been made from a telephone tap by the Provisional IRA on RUC headquarters in Derry, was found at a Garda station in Donegal at the weekend, according to today's Derry Journal newspaper.
There has been much speculation that it had been in the possession of the Garda since it was seized in a Garda raid of the home of a Sinn Fein member, Mr Jim Ferry, in May 1976.
An investigation into the whereabouts of the original tape was initiated at the behest of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, after a copy of the tape was given to the Derry Journal by republican sources.
It is thought possible that the original tape may contain conversations or parts of conversations which are not contained in the copy now held by the Bloody Sunday inquiry.
The conversations on the tape comprise various British soldiers and journalists inquiring about the situation after the shootings on Bloody Sunday.
One conversation can be heard between two soldiers. One says: "It's gone badly wrong in Rossville . . ." and adds: "They're pulling stiffs out there as fast as they can get them out."
The other soldier then says: "There's nothing wrong with that." His colleague answers: "Well there is, because they're the wrong people."
In May of last year solicitors acting on behalf of the families of the victims of Bloody Sunday wrote to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, asking whether the tape was in the hands of the Garda. They wrote again in September, without reply.
On resumption of the sittings of the tribunal in the Guildhall in Derry last Monday, Mr Christopher Clarke QC, for the inquiry, said: "As yet, the inquiry has received no substantive reply on this issue from the gardai or from the Irish Government."
It is understood the recording is currently at Garda headquarters in Dublin for investigation.
Mr Ferry, the Sinn Fein councillor, said yesterday he was satisfied the tape had been misplaced and that there was "nothing sinister" behind the fact that it had been missing for so long.