McGuinness 'plotted nail bomb attacks'

Martin McGuinness plotted to use the civil rights march on Bloody Sunday to carry out attacks in the centre of Londonderry, a former IRA bomber claimed yesterday.

Paddy Ward, giving evidence to the Saville inquiry, said that Mr McGuinness had authorised the supply of detonators for nail bombs to be used on seven targets. The plan, he said, was "to run after and mingle with the crowd after throwing the bombs".

Speaking from behind a screen, Mr Ward recalled meeting Mr McGuinness, education minister in the collapsed Northern Ireland Executive and Sinn Fein's chief negotiator, to pick up the detonators just hours before the projected attack on 30 January 1972. The operation was abandoned after British paratroopers shot dead 13 civilians. Mr Ward's evidence was delayed after the inquiry received submissions disputing his version of events and dismissing his claim that he was the commander of the Fianna, the Provisionals' youth wing at the time of Bloody Sunday. Seven statements were received refuting Mr Ward's allegations against Mr McGuinness.

Christopher Clarke QC, counsel for the inquiry, said they were from "Gerard Doherty, whose nickname appears to be 'Mad Dog', who describes himself as a member of the Bogside section of the Provisionals; Eddie Dobbins, who describes himself as a volunteer in the Creggan active service unit and Sean Keenan, who describes himself as an explosives officer." He added that statements had also been received from Michael Clarke, "known as 'Killer' Clarke", two former members of the Fianna, Patsy Moore and Gerry O'Hara, and Mr Ward's former parents-in-law.

Mr Ward said "It is a concerted effort to discredit my character...they have obviously been either coerced or coaxed or all pulled into line to make the same accusations to discredit my evidence to the inquiry".

Mr Ward was 16 at the time of Bloody Sunday. In a statement before giving evidence, Mr Ward said that Mr McGuinness had discussed plans to be put into action three days before the march. The meeting was held at a house in Stanley's Walk, in Londonderry. "Martin McGuinness made the point that the march was an opportunity to get into Guildhall Square," he said."Martin McGuinness asked what explosives we had...We told him we had 30 pounds of gelignite.

"...We agreed that on Sunday, the Fianna would be equipped with nail bombs for use and would mingle with the crowd...I and another volunteer were ordered to go down to the city centre and check out suitable targets which could be hit." Mr Ward said that the targets chosen included the General Post Office, the City Hotel, a building society office, a department store, and an estate agency owned by a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

"I met up with Martin McGuinness...we explained the targets we had selected and all was ok'd. We already had the explosives materials, I asked about detonators, which would be needed, and I was told, by McGuinness, that they would be supplied," said Mr Ward. He maintained that he and a companion met Mr McGuinness and a man called Colm Keenan just after noon on the Sunday, and Mr Keenan handed over the detonators.

Mr McGuinness has made two statements to Lord Saville. He is due to give evidence before the inquiry when it returns to Londonderry in November.