BOY’S RUBBER BULLET KILLING UNJUSTIFIED
Soldier used ‘excess force’
Francis Rowntree THE killing of a boy shot with a British army rubber bullet in 1972 was not justified, a coroner ruled yesterday.
Brian Sherrard added the soldier who fired at Francis Rowntree, 11, in Belfast used excessive force.
He said the trooper was not trained in the use of the rounds or made aware they were potentially lethal. He told Belfast Coroner’s Court: “There was no justification. The force used was in excess of what was needed to achieve Soldier B’s objectives.”
Francis, was shot in the head in the Divis area of the west of the city and died two days later.
He was the first person in the Troubles to die from a rubber bullet. The incident happened amid claims of people throwing stones at the soldiers.
In his preliminary finding Mr Sherrard said he was confident Francis was not involved in rioting.
Following a probe by the Historical Enquiries Team in 2010, a fresh inquest into the killing was ordered. The soldier who fired the bullet has been granted anonymity. He said he did not recall the day in question.
The court was told two rubber bullets were fired into the crowd in a bid to disperse them and one hit the boy’s head.
Speaking after the ruling, a solicitor said the family “welcome the findings”, adding: “The coroner confirmed Francis was not rioting and the lethal force used was ‘not justified’.”