The Prime Minister has “apologised unreservedly” for the events that led to the deaths of 10 innocent civilians in Ballymurphy 50 years ago.
Boris Johnson made the apology on behalf of the UK Government during a phone call with Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “He said the conclusions of the Ballymurphy Inquest, published yesterday, were deeply sad and that the events of August 1971 were tragic.
“The Prime Minister apologised unreservedly on behalf of the UK Government for the events that took place in Ballymurphy and the huge anguish that the lengthy pursuit of truth has caused the families of those killed.”
The UK Government must apologise “as a bare minimum” to the families of 10 innocent civilians killed in west Belfast in 1971 in shootings involving the Army, Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister said.
Speaking the day after a coroner ruled that the 10 people killed in Ballymurphy nearly 50 years ago were “entirely innocent”, Michelle O’Neill said Tuesday had been “a day for truth for the Ballymurphy families … but not a day of justice, and that’s what the families now need to see”.
She added: “That’s for everybody – all families are entitled to truth, all families are entitled to justice, all families are entitled to know what happened to their loved ones.
Boris Johnson unreservedly apologises for huge anguish caused to Ballymuprhy families
Downing Street said Mr Johnson made the remarks during a call with the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
The spokesperson said Mr Johnson restated his Government’s intention to deliver a way forward in Northern Ireland that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims of the Troubles and ends the cycle of reinvestigations. File Picture
Wed, 12 May, 2021 - 17:59
Rebecca Black PA
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has “apologised unreservedly” for the events that led to the deaths of 10 innocent civilians in Ballymurphy 50 years ago.
He made the apology on behalf of the UK Government during a phone call with Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
Calls are growing for the UK Government to issue an apology to the families of 10 civilians killed in west Belfast in 1971.
Fresh inquests into the deaths involving the Army concluded that the victims were “entirely innocent” and soldiers were responsible for nine of the fatal shootings.
Coroner Mrs Justice Keegan found that the use of lethal force by the Army was not justified.
She also criticised the lack of investigation into the 10th death, that of John McKerr, and said she could not definitively rule who had shot him.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long urged the Government to “step up and formally apologise for the actions of the Army on the day in question”.
Boris Johnson apologised unreservedly over Ballymurphy as inquest finds 10 killed were innocent
Irish Mirror 1 hour ago Rebecca Black
The British Prime Minister has apologised unreservedly for the events that led to the deaths of 10 innocent civilians in Ballymurphy 50 years ago.
Boris Johnson made the apology on behalf of the UK Government during a phone call with Northern Ireland s First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O Neill.
A Downing Street spokesman said: He said the conclusions of the Ballymurphy Inquest, published yesterday, were deeply sad and that the events of August 1971 were tragic. The Prime Minister apologised unreservedly on behalf of the UK Government for the events that took place in Ballymurphy and the huge anguish that the lengthy pursuit of truth has caused the families of those killed.