British Army soldiers who shot five dead in Belfast in 1972 overreacted and lost control, coroner says

Inquest finds children gunned down by British soldiers 'posed no risk at all'

An inquest at Belfast Coroner’s Court has ruled that two British soldiers “overreacted” and “lost control” when killing five innocent people who posed no threat. The troops gunned down their victims on 9 July 1972, in what became known as the Springhill Massacre, after the area in West Belfast where the brutal violence occurred. Three of the victims were in their teens. One of them was thirteen year old Margaret Gargan, who one of the soldiers s…

Two soldiers ‘lost control’ in fatal shooting of five people in Belfast 50 years ago, coroner finds

Two soldiers “lost control” in the fatal shootings of five people in Belfast almost 54 years ago, a coroner has said.

Soldiers who shot dead three teenagers, man and priest 54 years ago did not use reasonable force, coroner rules

Two British Army soldiers "lost control" and did not use reasonable force when they fatally shot five people in west Belfast nearly 54 years ago, a coroner has ruled.Mr Justice Scoffield delivered his ruling on the killings that took place on July 9 1972, finding that the soldiers acted without proper justification.The victims included Catholic priest Father Noel Fitzpatrick, aged 42, Patrick Butler, a 38-year-old father of six, and three teenag…

Inquest into 1972 shootings of five people in Belfast finds British soldiers 'lost control'

Mr Justice Scoffield said three teenagers, a father-of-six and a Catholic priest were unarmed and posed no risk when they were shot.

Springhill, Westrock massacre inquest findings to be delivered

Springhill inquest: Coroner delivering findings over five people shot dead in 1972

An initial request was held in 1973, with the then coroner returning an open verdict.