August 9, 1971 is a date firmly etched in the minds of many people in six counties in Ireland's north occupied by Britain. It was the date of the start of the occupying British Army's Operation Demetrius — more commonly known as the start of internment.
Internment was the military response to a popular uprising against a politically bankrupt Stormont regime. As part of Operation Demetrius, thousands of British soldiers descended on nationalist areas, smashed into homes and dragged hundreds of men away to be incarcerated in prison camps without charge or trial.
The message of internment was clear: the pro-British (unionist) Stormont regime and Westminster were not interested in finding a political solution to the crisis situation in Ireland's north.
The unionist regime opted for military repression in response to nationalist aspirations for civil rights and progressive change.
But August 9, 1971 also marked the start of a three-day killing spree by a British Army parachute regiment in the predominantly nationalist Ballymurphy in Belfast.
Over these three days, 11 unarmed civilians were murdered, including a Catholic priest and a mother of eight — both killed trying to help the wounded.
The families of the 11 victims have tried to get justice for the past 42 years. But they have been blocked at every turn.
The British Army claimed the soldiers were returning fire on Irish Republican Army gunmen. But then how could a priest be shot in the back? All victims were forensically tested and none produced positive results for gunshot residue or showed signs of having held a weapon.
The British government continues to deny the families their right to a fair and impartial investigation into what happened. The murderers have still not been held to account for their actions.
The Parachute regiment committed the atrocities in Ballymurphy, if they had have been bought to account would it have prevented Bloody Sunday in Derry? The same regiment was responsible for 14 more deaths, 6 months later when they killed 14 civil rights marchers in the city of Derry.
The 11 families deserve justice. I have met some of the families. To see the determination in their eyes and hear the horror stories they relate, made me realise that there will never truly be peace in Ireland's north unless we help these people obtain closure. They are not asking for the world, just for the truth to come out.
We can all help. Even a message of support will go a long way to show these families that they are not alone and that we stand in solidarity with their cause. Email admin@ballymurphymassacre.com to contact the 1971 Ballymurphy Massacre Committee.
BALLYMURPHY MASSACRE TIMELINE
August 9:
* The first of the killings took place on August 9 in Springfield Park, BOBBY CLARK was trying to get kids to safety when he was shot and wounded, people couldn’t get to his aid as they were pinned down by gunfire from the British Army.
* The second person to be shot, the first to die was the local Parish Priest, Father Hugh Mullan. Father Mullan went to help Bobby Clark, he was waving a white cloth, Father Mullan anointed the wounded man and was then shot.
* The second death was that of Frank Quinn who left his place of safety to help others and was fatally wounded.
* Noel Phillips was shot as he tried to find cover from the gunfire, as he lay crying for help, a woman, Joan Connolly, a mother of eight went to his aid whilst saying, “ it’s alright son I’m coming to you." Joan Connolly was shot in the face, as she staggered around, she was shot a further three times, as she lay on the ground, locals tried to help her and were shot by the British soldiers.
* Daniel Teggart, a father of 13 was shot whilst running for cover, he was shot a further 14 times while laying on the ground.
* Joseph Murphy was shot in the leg. He did not, like all the victims, receive any medical attention, instead he was taken to the army barracks and severely beaten, he was to die three weeks later from injuries received during the beating.
August 10:
* As he was making his way home on the Whiterock road, Eddie Doherty was shot in the back by a member of the parachute regiment, as with all the victims, Eddie did not receive any medical treatment and subsequently died of hid wounds.
August 11:
* Early in the morning of August 11, John Laverty was shot dead.
* Joseph Corr, a father of seven was also shot and succumbed to his wounds on the August 27. The army account claimed that both men were armed and firing at the soldiers. Ballistic and forensic test proved this to be a lie, but to this day the British army version is the “official version”.
* Paddy McCarthy was shot in the hand as he attempted to leave the local community centre to deliver milk and bread, he continued with his deliveries later on and was stopped and beaten by the soldiers, as a result Paddy McCarthy suffered a massive heart attack and died.
* John McKerr was the eleventh victim of the Ballymurphy Massacre, shot by an army sniper, John McKerr died of his wounds on 20th August.
