UVF witness again fails to show up for Ballymurphy inquest

A CORONER has said she will consider which steps to take next after a UVF interlocutor failed to appear at the Ballymurphy inquest for a third time.

Witness X was due to give evidence about UVF activity in the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast at the time of a series of disputed shootings which left 10 people, including a Catholic priest and a woman, dead.

The witness had been served with a notice to attend Belfast Coroner’s Court yesterday but did not appear for the hearing.

The inquest was told it was the third time the witness had not turned up.

Mrs Justice Siobhan Keegan said the witness had requested to be screened from legal representatives while giving evidence — a request which she had refused.

Karen Quinlivan QC, representing a number of the bereaved families, argued that a statement from Witness X should not be considered if the witness could not be questioned about it.

She also questioned the reliability of their evidence, saying that because it came from “a number of different sources”, it was “entirely untested and entirely unchallengeable”.

However, Kevin Rooney QC, for the Ministry of Defence, argued the witness was “very relevant” to proceedings.

He told the inquest that the witness’s statement came about because “UVF veterans were adamant they wanted the truth to be told”.

Mr Rooney said the statement included information about at least six UVF firing points and the weapons used.

This information was provided in the format of answers to questions which had been asked by the Coroners Service.

“We would prefer the witness to be examined on that,” Mr Rooney said.

“We can’t simply ignore the answers to the questions that the witness has given. They are relevant.”

Mrs Justice Keegan said she would look into whether Witness X could or should be compelled to attend.

The coroner also said she would examine “what steps I can take in terms of punishing the witness for a breach of court direction”.

The shootings in Ballymurphy happened over three days from August 9 to 11, 1971, amid widespread rioting in response to the introduction of internment.

Soldiers have long been held responsible for the killings, but the accepted narrative became clouded last year after former members of the UVF came forward to claim the organisation was also involved.

The UVF first claimed in 2018 that one of its gunmen had been active in the area at the time of the 10 deaths.

The alleged sniper, who was said to have been using a Mauser rifle, has since died.

Sean Doran QC, for the coroner, said that a report compiled as part of a PSNI investigation into Witness X’s initial statement found no forensic link between the Mauser rifle and the ballistics material available from Ballymurphy.

The inquest into the deaths continues.