The Ballymurphy Families were in court today 11th October 2018 for an update on the tracing and identification of soldiers involved in the Ballymurphy Massacre. This has been a running issues since the inquests reopened in November 2010, the MOD have used every trick in the book to stall and block the inquests even presenting the court with 4773 soldiers names 6 days before the inquests started, all this was designed to do was swamp the court and stall the inquests. Families learned today in court that the list didn’t even include information that would identify if soldiers served in Ballymurphy at the time.

Upon visiting each of the spots where the victims were murdered, the AOH promised to take what they had learned back home to the Irish American community.

The families of the Ballymurphy victims met with two AOH representatives who heard testimonies from them about how their loved ones were shot

The representatives were told in great detail how the victims met their fate at the hands of those who were meant to be protecting them.

The families outlined how their loved ones were murdered in their own area some 47 years ago.

The National Vice-President of the AOH, Danny O’Connell and Secretary Jere Cole heard how Father Hugh Mullan was shot as he waved a white handkerchief ,brothers of the late Frank Quinn, Liam and Pat went into detail of how frank was murdered going to the aid of Fr Mullan and the wounded Bobby Clarke.

They were told how Danny Teggart was shot fourteen times with a high velocity rifles and how Joan Connolly was shot by the army and then left out in the open to bleed to death.

The victim’s families showed Mr O’Connell and Mr Cole photographs of Ballymurphy around the time of the massacre. These photographs demonstrate the close proximity of Father Mullan’s house and the field he was shot in. They also show how close the vantage points of the paratroopers were.

The families visited the manse field where four of the Ballymurphy victims were shot, among them was Mrs Connolly and Mr Teggart.

Mrs Connolly’s daughter Philomena spoke about her mother and how she was murdered on that day along with six others.

The families along with Mr O’Connell and Mr Cole, visited the other spots where the victims had lost their lives.

John Laverty’s sister went into detail abut how her brother was shot dead along with another man Joseph Corr.

She spoke of her other brother, Terry, and how he had tried to make it home to safety but was stopped by the paratroopers.

Terry was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment on that day for riotous behaviour. Some years later this conviction was overturned.

The delegation were also informed of Pat McCarthy and John McKerr who also lost their lives at the hands of the British Paratroopers on the third day of the masscare

The families finished the tour at the spot on the Whiterock Road where Eddie Doherty was killed. Eddie’s sister Kathleen gave detail about her brother’s death and how he was shot in the back also.

John Teggart, son of Danny Teggart said:

“It was some hard-lifting for the two visitors from the Ancient Order of Hibernians but I do think that it brought home to them that this did happen.

“On that first day, on August 9^th, six people were murdered. This happened on a bright summers night and it happened at close range. They were carefully aimed shots, direct shots, and in the end, there was no forensic evidence to suggest that any of our loved ones were anywhere near rifles.

“There was no ammunition recovered, no guns recovered and there were no security personnel shot in that proximity. This all proves that our loved ones were killed, they were shot in the back.”

Mr Taggart has said that there is a campaign of fake news happening by some newspapers at the minute and that some politicians are insisting that the Ballymurphy Massacre has already been investigated and calling for an amnesty for these soldiers.

“The sole people who investigated Ballymurphy were the Royal Military Police. When politicians say that Ballymurphy was investigated they are referring to the investigation done by the friends of those who were being interviewed who murdered our loved ones.

“Just like the Widgery inquiry, if they had taken statements off of these soldiers and it didn’t sum up as the Royal Military Police liked, they crafted them to suit their version of events.

“All the RUC did was take photographs of our loved ones in the morgue and maybe statements from those who had identified them.

“Anybody who says that Ballymurphy was investigated needs to think about the brutality of the Royal Military Police over those three days in Ballymurphy. Then they can see if it was a proper investigation.”

The Ballymurphy Massacre Families would like to thank Danny , Jere and the AOH  for their continued  support.

Since the screening of the Massacre in Ballymurphy film the Ballymurphy Massacre Families have been inundated with messages of support and best wishes for the upcoming inquests. We have been asked by many people how they can donate to the campaign and in response we have set up this My Donate page. The funds raised will assist us in our campaign for truth and justice, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind messages of support.

On Monday 9th of August 1971 Interment Without Trial was introduced by the British Government in the North of Ireland. This policy was implemented by the British Army at 4am on that particular summer morning. The British Army directed the campaign against the predominately Catholic community with the stated aim to “shock and stun the civilian population”.

Between 9th and 11th of August 1971, over 600 British soldiers entered the Ballymurphy area of West Belfast, raiding homes and rounding up men. Many, both young and old, were shot and beaten as they were dragged from their homes without reason. During this 3 day period 11 people were brutally murdered.

All 11 unarmed civilians were murdered by the British Army’s Parachute Regiment. One of the victims was a well known parish priest and another was a 45 year old mother of eight children. No investigations were carried out and no member of the British Army was held to account.
It is believed that some of the soldiers involved in Ballymurphy went on to Derry some months later where similar events occurred. Had those involved in Ballymurphy been held to account, the events of Bloody Sunday may not have happened.

The terrible events which took place in Ballymurphy in 1971 have for too long remained in the shadows.

The tour starts in Springfield Close location 1 of six all within half a mile, you are now at the International Wall, click below for directions to Springfield Close. Use the QR codes at each location for information about that site and follow the tour.

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Eddie Doherty, a father of two from the St James’ area of West Belfast, had visited his elderly parents in the Turf Lodge area, on the evening of Tuesday 10th August to check on their safety during the ongoing unrest. He was making his way home along the Whiterock road, as he approached the West Rock area he noticed a barricade which had been erected by local people in an attempt to restrict access to the British Army.

A local man named Billy Whelan, known to Eddie, stopped him and the pair passed commented on the ongoing trouble. At the same time a British Army digger and Saracen moved in to dismantle the barricade. From the digger, a soldier from the Parachute Regiment opened fire. Eddie was fatally shot in the back. Local people carried him to neighbouring homes in an attempt to provide medical attention but Eddie died a short time later from a single gun shot wound.

You are on the Whiterock Road, location 6 of 6, you can go back to the previous location below, then scan the QR code at that location for information.

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John McKerr, a father of 8 and a carpenter from the Andersonstown Road area, was carrying out repair work in Corpus Christi chapel on the 11th August. John took a short break to allow the funeral of a local boy, who drowned in a swimming accident, to take place. As he waited outside the chapel for the funeral mass to end, John was shot once in the head by a British solider from the Army’s Parachute Regiment.

Despite the harassment of the British Army, local people went to his aid and remained at his side until an ambulance arrived. One local woman, named locally as Maureen Heath, argued with the soldiers as they refused to allow John to be taken in the ambulance. John was eventually taken to hospital but died of his injuries 9 days later having never regained consciousness.

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Paddy McCarthy, a local community worker who came to work in Ballymurphy from England, was shot in the hand on the same day as he was attempting to leave the local community centre to distribute milk and bread to neighbouring families. A few hours later and nursing his wounded hand, Pat decided to continue with the deliveries. He was stopped by soldiers from the British Army’s Parachute Regiment who harassed and beat him.

Eye witness’ watched in horror as the soldiers carried out a mock execution on Pat by placing a gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger, only for the gun to be unloaded. Pat suffered a massive heart attack and the same soldiers stopped local people from trying to help Pat. As a result Pat died from the ordeal.

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At roughly 4am on 11th August. John Laverty, a local man of 20 years, was shot and killed by soldiers from the British Army’s Parachute regiment. Joseph Corr, a local father of 6, was also shot and wounded by the same regiment. Mr Corr died of his injuries 16 days later. The Parachute Regiment’s account stated that both men were firing at the army and were killed as the army responded. Neither men were armed and ballistic and forensic evidence tested at the time disproved the army’s testimony.

You are at Upper Whiterock Road, location 3 of 6, you can continue to the next location below, then scan the QR code at that location for information or go back to a previous location.

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Tension was rising in the community as local youths fought back against the army’s horrendous campaign. Families were fleeing their homes in Springfield park as they came under attack from loyalist mobs approaching from the direction of Springmartin. Parents frantically searched for their children. Local men were still being removed from their homes, beaten and interned without reason. All this and at the same time the people of Ballymurphy were trying to live a normal life.
Local people had started gathering at the bottom of Springfield Park, an area known locally as the Manse. Some of those gathering included Joseph Murphy who was returning from the wake of a local boy who drowned in a swimming accident. Joan Connolly and her neighbour Anna Breen stopped as they searched for their daughters. Daniel Teggart also stopped as he returned from his brother’s house which was close to Springfield Park. Daniel had gone to his brother’s house to check on his brother’s safety as his house had been attacked as local youth targeted the Henry Taggart Army base located near by. Noel Phillips, a young man of 19 years, having just finished work walked to Springfield park to check on the local situation.

Without warning the British Army opened fire from the direct of the Henry Taggart Army base. The shooting was aimed directly at the gathering. In the panic people dispersed in all directions. Many people took refuge in a field directly opposite the army base. The army continued to fire and intensified their attack on this field.

Noel Phillips was shot in the back side. An injury that was later described in his autopsy as a flesh wound. As he lay crying for help, Joan Connolly, a mother of 8 went to his aid. Eye witnesses heard Joan call out to Noel saying “It’s alright son, I’m coming to you”.

In her attempt to aid Noel, Joan was shot in the face. When the gun fire stopped Noel Phillips, Joan Connolly, Joseph Murphy and many others lay wounded. Daniel Teggart, a father of 14, lay dead having been shot 14 times.

A short time later a British Army vehicle left the Henry Taggart Army base and entered the field. A solider exited the vehicle, and to the dismay of the local eye witnesses, executed the already wounded Noel Phillips by shooting him once behind each ear with a hand gun.

Soldiers then began lifting the wounded and dead and throwing them into the back of the vehicle. Joseph Murphy, who had been shot once in the leg, was also lifted along with the other victims and taken to the Henry Taggart Army base. Those lifted, including Joseph Murphy, were severely beaten. Soldiers brutally punched and kicked the victims. Soldiers jumped off bunks on top of victims and aggravated the victims’ existing wounds by forcing objects in to them. Mr Murphy was shot at close range with a rubber bullet into the wound he first received in the field. Mr Murphy died three weeks later from his injuries.

Joan Connolly, who had not been lifted by the soldiers when they first entered the field, lay wounded where she had been shot. Eye witnesses claimed Joan cried out for help for many hours. Joan was eventually removed from the field around 2:30am on 10th August. Autopsy reports state that Joan, having been repeatedly shot and bled to death.

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