A coroner has ruled that British soldiers 'lost control' and used unreasonable force in the killing of five civilians in Belfast in 1972. The inquest, which concluded after 54 years, found that none of the victims should have been shot.
The deaths occurred on 9 July 1972 in the Springhill and Westrock areas of west Belfast. Victims included Father Noel Fitzpatrick, 42, Patrick Butler, 37, Margaret Gargan, 13, David McCafferty, 15, and John Dougal, 16. The coroner said four were unarmed and it was unclear if the fifth was armed.
Justice Michael Scoffield stated that soldiers A and E acted in breach of the 'yellow card' rules on lethal force. Soldier A fired from less than 100 metres without assessing risk, killing four people. Soldier E shot Margaret Gargan. The judge noted the soldiers' youth and inexperience.
David McCafferty's sister welcomed the verdict, saying it brought 'long-awaited clarity and justice'. The family had pursued the truth for decades. The inquest was the last to complete before a 2024 guillotine on legacy cases, though the Labour government plans to amend the legislation.
Patrick Butler's daughter Natasha said the inquest delivered 'some measure of truth' that the reconciliation commission could not. Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said the verdict confirmed the victims posed no threat and highlighted the British army's impunity.
