Thomas Friel died after he was struck with a rubber bullet in Derry in 1972
Thomas Friel from Creggan Heights died four days after being struck by a rubber bullet on May 18 1973.
In 2014 a new inquest was ordered into his death.
At yesterday’s hearing the Coroner Joe McCrisken was told that there were still two civilian witnesses that had not been traced.
David Heraghty, representing the Friel family, said that if the identity of those two witnesses could be made public some of the next of kin could possibly help in tracing them.
The hearing also heard that the issue of anonymity and screening for British military witnesses could delay the full inquest going ahead.
Mr Heraghty told the hearing that if those witnesses wanted anonymity and screening the an application should be made to the coroner.
The Coroner said he would assume that all the anonymity applications would be on the same lines as all others in previous hearings.
Mr Heraghty said that may well be but he still had to take instructions from the next if kin and the former soldiers would have to make their case.
He added that if the military witnesses were giving evidence remotely then there would be no need for screening.
The hearing was told that this could delay the setting of a date for the actual inquest as each individual witness would have to be contacted and make a statement in support of their application and in the present climate that would be difficult.
As regards a witness known as Soldier B who is believed to be the one who fired the fatal baton round the Coroner was told he wished to attend the Inquest in person but again the COVID-19 situation could cause difficulties.
Coroner McCrisken said that in any event Soldier B would not be screened from the family of the deceased if he did attend just any general public who may be present.
The Coroner said he was anxious to move the inquest on and had considered a date in November but all the outstanding issues had to be resolved by then.
He added that if the hearing was delayed it could be May or June next year before it could be scheduled.
The hearing was adjourned until Thursday, October 22 this year to see what issues could be resolved.
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