John Hume was Jack Lynch's agent

A secret document compiled by RUC Special Branch claimed that former SDLP leader John Hume and three colleagues worked as agents of the Dublin government at the time of Bloody Sunday.

The ``intelligence'' paper, which was submitted to the Blood Sunday inquiry in Derry today, also claimed that then Irish Prime Minister Jack Lynch had promised funds to groups working to overthrow the then Stormont government.

The document said Mr Lynch had paid money to the SDLP and mentioned Mr Hume, then a leading member of the party, and colleagues Mr Ivan Cooper, Mr Austin Currie and Mr Paddy O'Hanlon as Dublin's intelligence officers.

Mr Hume later described the claims as ``nonsense'' and said the RUC dossier was evidence of the RUC's ``lack of knowledge of the Nationalist community''.

Former Special Branch Detective Chief Inspector Samuel Donnelly, giving evidence to the inquiry today, said he had no memory of intelligence relating to the intentions of either wing of the IRA on Bloody Sunday.

Mr Donnelly said: ``I have no recollection of any intelligence or information received from any source about the movements of the IRA or any other organisation before Bloody Sunday.

``Specifically I do not recall what information, if any, Special Branch received about the likely actions of the IRA on the day or the sources of any such information.''

The Bloody Sunday tribunal is entering the final stages of hearing evidence. The last witness is due to testify at the Guildhall in Derry on Thursday.

The tribunal is examining the events of 30 January 1972 when 13 civilians were shot dead by British army soldiers during a civil rights march in Derry. A 14th person died later.

More than 900 witnesses have testified since the tribunal began hearing the evidence nearly four years ago, but it will still be some time before the inquiry actually draws to a close.

Urgent Appeal