THOMAS NOT KILLED BY A RUBBER BULLET

Coroner’s shock finding over riot death in 1973

A MAN believed to have been hit by a rubber bullet was likely to have been fatally injured by other means, a coroner has found.

Thomas Friel, 21, died in hospital in May 1973 four days after being injured during rioting in the Creggan area of Derry.

A fresh inquest found he was likely struck by masonry during an altercation between youths and soldiers which caused him to fall and sustain an injury.

Coroner Joe Mccrisken concluded at Derry Court that he was not satisfied Mr Friel had been struck by a rubber bullet.

He delivered his findings after a “long and difficult exercise,” hampered by the issue of memories of the incident.

Mr Mccrisken was critical of the original police probe over its assessment of the timing of the injury.

He concluded that Mr Friel sustained three separate injuries to his head.

He added: “The first was a blow to the left side of the forehead.

“I consider it most likely that this injury was caused by Mr Friel having been struck by a missile of some sort during a disturbance involving a crowd of youths and the army. The first injury, to the left side of the forehead, was caused by, in my view on balance, a missile, a piece of masonry, something of that nature during the disturbance.

“I am satisfied that Thomas Friel was highly intoxicated when he arrived at Creggan Heights.

“I am satisfied that while in Creggan Heights he was with the crowd who were involved in stoning the army patrol.”

The coroner said that as Mr Friel fell to the ground, he struck the left side of his head and face.

He said this “caused the left sided fracture of his skull.. bleeding and brain damage, to the left and right side.”

He added: “There was a third injury to the top of the skull, perhaps caused by a fall or perhaps caused by a missile.”

While the coroner said at least two rubber batons were discharged striking at least two people he did not believe that Mr Friel was struck by one of them.

Mr Friel’s family, long campaigned for a fresh inquest, believing that he was injured by a rubber bullet fired by a soldier.

The Pat Finucane Centre which is supporting them tweeted that the family will consider the findings.

He was with the crowd stoning the army JOE MCCRISIKEN DELIVERS HIS VERDICT

FRESH INQUEST Thomas Friel died four days after being injured in riot