Ballymurphy Massacre probes hailed

Bereaved relatives and politicians have welcomed plans to reopen inquests into the deaths of 10 people shot dead by British troops in Belfast 40 years ago.

Northern Ireland's Attorney General, John Larkin, has written to the families confirming the fresh probes into the Parachute Regiment killings in the Ballymurphy area in the west of the city.

The shootings took place in August 1971 when internment without trial was introduced in a botched attempt to take paramilitaries off the streets.

The 10 civilian victims included a mother of eight and a Catholic priest, while an 11th victim is said to have died of a heart attack after being intimidated by troops.

The deaths came five months before soldiers from the same regiment killed 14 people in Londonderry in the Bloody Sunday shootings which were condemned by the Saville Inquiry.

John Teggart, whose father Daniel was one of those shot dead in what has become known as the Ballymurphy Massacre, welcomed the decision to begin fresh hearings in the 10 inquests within months.

"We commend the Attorney General for showing leadership and credibility," he said.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams described the decision as a "landmark legal judgment" which provides families with an opportunity to get to the truth over the deaths of their loved ones. Mr Adams said his party would continue to press for an inquiry into the 11th death at Ballymurphy.

West Belfast representative Alex Attwood, of the nationalist SDLP, also welcomed the announcement on the case.

"The decision by the Attorney General on the Ballymurphy Massacre is a step in the right direction," he said. "This decision vindicates the campaign of the families for truth and justice."

The names and circumstances of the death of the victims referred to on this website comes from court documents, witness statements, official reports, and respected human rights and civil liberties organisations such as Amnesty International. Allegations of the British Army Force Research Unit collusion in the murder of UK citizens, including the murder of human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane comes from the British Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens who conducted the official enquiry into British Army Collusion.

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