Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
O’neill: These were British State murders
DEPUTY First Minister Michelle O’neill welcomed yesterday’s ruling.
Reacting to the findings, she tweeted: “The victims and the families have been vindicated and the truth laid bare. This was British State murder.”
First Minister Arlene Foster added: “This has been a long road for the Ballymurphy families. 50 years later, the court has considered the evidence and the findings should be accepted. I commend them for their tenacity.”
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the findings have “cast a tremendous new light on one of the darkest pages of the history of the conflict”.
He added it will come as an “immense relief and vindication for the families who have maintained for decades that their loved ones were innocent and their killings unjustified”.
Alliance leader Naomi Long paid tribute to the families. She added: “The Ballymurphy families have had battle too hard and too long to finally hear that truth at today’s inquest ruling into their loved ones’ deaths.
“They have carried themselves with courage and fortitude throughout the last 50 years. This is vindication of their fight.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the Dail: “Our first thoughts today are with the families of those killed following that terrible violence and atrocities in Ballymurphy on those three terrible days in August 1971.
“I recall visiting the site at the time and meeting with relatives.
“I was never in any doubt that these innocent citizens were killed without any justification and that they were entirely innocent. The inquest has found that.
“It’s been a very harrowing experience for many, many relatives. There have been many false dawns in terms of trying to get closure or trying to get
justice.”