Irish bishop will air evidence of British soldiers' misconduct in 1971 killings
July 29, 2010
An Irish Catholic bishop has announced plans to release documented evidence of misconduct by British troops in the killing of 11 people at Ballymurphy in August 1971.
Bishop Noel Treanor of Connor and Down will hold a press conference on July 30 to make public reports from the diocesan archives, including eyewitness reports that testify the British Parachute Regiment opened fire on civilians without provocation. Military officials claimed at the time that the soldiers fired only in self-defense—a claim that the diocesan documents undermine. Bishop Treanor will call for an international investigation of the Ballymurphy killings, and recommend a formal apology from the British government, similar to the recent apology for the killing of civilians in the “Bloody Sunday” episode that occurred six months after the Ballymurphy shootings and involved some of the same British troops.
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Further information:
- Church to release 1971 Ballymurphy killings report (BBC)
- Irish bishop welcomes report on Bloody Sunday (CWN 6/16)
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