Prime Minister’s letter to Ballymurphy families ‘unacceptable’
Updated: May 13, 2021, 4:49 pm
John Teggart, son of Daniel Teggart, who was among those killed in the series of shootings in Ballymurphy, Belfast, between August 9-11, 1971, stands with other members of the Ballymurphy families, holding a letter from Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Brian Lawless/PA)
The Ballymurphy families have received a letter from the Prime Minister in which Boris Johnson expressed his personal sorrow for the “terrible hurt that has been caused” by the deaths of 10 innocent civilians 50 years ago.
On Tuesday, coroner Mrs Justice Keegan found that those who died in Belfast in August 1971 were “entirely innocent”.
By Press Association 2021
John Teggart, son of Daniel Teggart, who was among those killed in the series of shootings in Ballymurphy, Belfast, between August 9-11, 1971, stands with other members of the Ballymurphy families, holding a letter from Prime Minister Boris Johnson
The Ballymurphy families have received a letter from the Prime Minister in which Boris Johnson expressed his personal sorrow for the “terrible hurt that has been caused” by the deaths of 10 innocent civilians 50 years ago.
On Tuesday, coroner Mrs Justice Keegan found that those who died in Belfast in August 1971 were “entirely innocent”.
She found that nine of the 10 had been killed by soldiers, and that the use of lethal force was not justified.
The Taoiseach will travel to the UK to meet with Boris Johnson tomorrow.
It comes amid increasing tensions over Brexit, the UK’s response to the Ballymurphy inquest and plans to introduce an amnesty for crimes committed during the Troubles.
The meeting is due to take place at the UK Prime Minister’s Chequers country estate.
NEW: Taoiseach Micheál Martin will travel to London tomorrow for a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Expected the two will discuss Northern Ireland, Troubles amnesty, Ballymurphy inquest, Brexit and Ireland/UK relations
In a phone call with Mr Johnson Northern Irish political leaders yesterday apologised unreservedly on behalf of the UK Government for the Ballymurphy massacre, in which ten people were killed and another person died.
The families of the Ballymurphy victims said the British Prime Minister had “ruined the moment” for them by the clumsiness of the way in which the apology was made.
The Ballymurphy families have angrily rejected a letter of apology from Boris Johnson expressing his personal sorrow for the “terrible hurt that has been caused” by the deaths of 10 innocent civilians 50 years ago.
At an emotional press conference in Belfast on Thursday, relatives of those who died said the timing and the content of the letter was “disgraceful” and challenged the Prime Minister to come to the House of Commons and “speak to the world” about what happened in Ballymurphy.
On Tuesday, coroner Mrs Justice Keegan ruled that those who died in Belfast in August 1971 were “entirely innocent”.
She found that nine of the 10 had been killed by soldiers, and that the use of lethal force was not justified.