Ten killed in West Belfast ‘innocent’

Ten people killed in west Belfast 50 years ago in disputed shootings involving British soldiers were “entirely innocent”, a coroner has ruled.

The Army has been found to be responsible for nine of the 10 deaths in August 1971, including a mother of eight and a priest.

Presiding Coroner Mrs Justice Keegan said there was not enough evidence to determine where the shot that killed the 10th victim, John Mckerr, came from.

The coroner acknowledged it was a chaotic time in Northern Ireland but ruled the use of force by soldiers had been “disproportionate” in the nine deaths the Army was found as responsible for.

She ruled out any paramilitary involvement by any of those killed, and described them as “entirely innocent”.

Ten inquests were heard in terms of five incidents in and around the Ballymurphy area.

Parish priest

Father

Hugh Mullan, 38, and Frank Quinn, 19, were shot on August 9.

The coroner found they were killed by shots fired by soldiers and that the force used was not justified.

Also on August 9, Noel Philips, 19; Joseph Murphy, 41; Joan Connolly, 44, and Daniel Teggart, 44, were fatally wounded by gunfire.

The coroner found these killings were not justified, and that the victims were “innocent” and unarmed.

The following day, Eddie Doherty, 31, died after

being shot. The coroner ruled that the use of force was disproportionate.

She also rejected claims that he had been throwing petrol bombs at the time.

On the third day, Joseph Corr, 43, and John Laverty, 20, were shot. Mr Corr died from his injuries 16 days later. The coroner said the military had failed to establish an adequate

justification for the use of lethal force in killing Mr Corr and Mr Laverty.

She concluded the two men were shot by the Army and rejected claims the pair had fired at soldiers.

Also on August 11, former soldier John Mckerr, 49, was shot. He died of his injuries on August 20.

Mrs Justice Keegan said he was an entirely innocent

man but there was not enough evidence for her to determine where the shot that killed him came from.

She noted that Mr Mckerr was a “proud military man” and claims that he was associated with the IRA had caused great pain for his family.

The coroner described the inquests as Northern Ireland’s longest-running.

COURT: Families celebrate after their relatives were ruled to be “entirely innocent”.