» Peadar Whelan
The families of ten nationalist civilians shot and killed by the British army in Ballymurphy in August 1971 welcomed the findings of coroner Mrs Justice Siobhan Keegan who declared all of the dead innocent and found that the British army used disproportionate force when killing their loved ones in a series of shootings known as the Ballymurphy Massacre.
However their elation was “stolen” from them by the refusal of British Prime Minster Boris Johnston to apologise directly to the families for the actions of the British state and the British army.
A statement released by 10 Downing Street on Wednesday 12 May, after a meeting involving Michelle O’Neill and Arlene Foster, stated that Johnston had apologised during the meeting, a claim rejected by Sinn Féin.
Ballymurphy victims relatives reject Boris Johnson apology John Teggart, speaking after this week s inquest findings were made public . Connla Young
The families of the Ballymurphy Massacre after this week s inquest findings
THERE was confusion last night after Downing Street claimed that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had apologised unreservedly after a coroner found that the Ballymurphy Massacre victims were entirely innocent .
A Downing Street spokesman claimed the apology was delivered when Mr Johnson spoke to First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O Neill yesterday.
However, after the remote meeting neither Sinn Féin or the DUP referenced the apparent apology.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will write in person to the families of the Ballymurphy victims to express his apologies for their deaths 50 years ago.