Families’ anger at stance on Troubles murders

Families bereaved in Northern Ireland’s troubled past have reacted with hurt and anger to plans to prevent future prosecutions over their murders.

The bar on prosecutions would apply across the board, including former security force members and paramilitaries, but an exemption would still enable war crimes, such as torture, to be prosecuted, according to reports.

Mark Kelly, who was a teenager when he saw his 12-year-old sister Carol-ann die after being struck in the back of the head by a plastic bullet in Belfast in 1981, described the idea as “absolutely disgraceful”.

He said there has never been a full investigation into what happened to his sister and no one has been brought to justice.

He said: “When I heard the news, I was just so angry, I felt like I did on the day Carol-ann was killed... I think I am even more angry now than I was then.

“It is absolutely disgraceful. It is so frustrating and there are hundreds of families like mine... we’re being told my sister’s life is not worth an investigation.

“Carol-ann would have been 52 now, she had no life and for no reason.

“What I want to see is an investigation and the British soldier responsible brought before the courts to face the justice system.”

Mr Kelly called for the Irish Government and the European Union to speak up.

“The Irish Government don’t want to rock the boat. The EU are still chasing people from the Second World War but in the north of Ireland they are allowing the British Government to get away with it. It is absolutely scandalous.” he said.