Fionnbarra Ó Dochartaigh was responding to the shock allegations made against the late captain by IRA veteran Johnny White at a press conference in the city last weekend.

"If the Capt. Kelly case goes to tribunal, let those behind the claims made against him stand by their words in court," Mr Ó Dochartaigh declared.

"The Kelly family have nothing to fear by a full inquiry", the campaign manager added.

"Anyone who has a disclosure to make - let them come out of the woodwork. If this does go to a tribunal they will be obliged to stand over their claims or retract them.

"With words there are consequences and people can't simply walk away from these allegations."

Mr Ó Dochartaigh said he wasn't "fully convinced" the State would agree to a tribunal of inquiry. But he added that a recent ruling limiting barristers' fees and the timetable for tribunals in the Republic of Ireland made it more likely that the southern Government will call an official inquiry into the events around the 1970 arms trial.

"The Kelly family has simply sought an apology from the Irish Government. But when the full weight of the petition is publicised and letters sent to every TD in the Dáil - I believe there will be a public outcry for a tribunal.

"I support the view of the Derry News' veteran journalist Frank Curran who some weeks back called for a tribunal to get to the truth and set the record straight."

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern is duty bound, Mr Ó Dochartaigh claimed, to stand by the statement he made hours after Captain Kelly's death in which he endorsed the army man's "integrity".

"When the letter and the petition goes to every TD I believe there will be an outcry for a tribunal. I don't think the simple apology called for by the Kelly family will satisfy the public.

"There can be no true justice without the full truth."