TODAY MARKS THE 43rd anniversary of the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971 which killed 11 people, and a demonstration will be held in Dublin later in support of victims’ families.
Over three days, the 11 people, including a priest and a mother-of-eight, were shot by the Parachute Regiment of the British Army in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast, following orders to arrest people suspected of paramilitary activity.
The shootings took place hours after the government introduced a policy of internment, where suspects were detained without charge or trial.
Six people were shot on the first day – 9 August – ranging in age from 19 to 50. This included Fr Hugh Mullan who is said to have been attempting to give a seriously injured man his last rites when he was taken down by a sniper.
Another civilian was shot the next day and a further four on 11 August. Some of the soldiers posted in Ballymurphy were later also involved in Bloody Sunday.
The families of victims have always maintained that their loved ones were innocent and unarmed.
At the start of this year, they met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny as part of their campaign for an independent panel to investigate the deaths – similar to the Hillsborough inquiry.
Kenny later said he would press the issue with British Prime Minister David Cameron but there have been no further developments since then.
In support of the campaign, a group in Dublin has organised a demonstration which will congregate at the Spire on O’Connell Street at 1pm today.
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