Inquiry to examine 1973 killings of six Catholics in Belfast

The human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce is among the legal figures taking part this weekend in an unofficial inquiry into six highly controversial killings in Belfast almost three decades ago.

The inquiry is investigating the deaths of six men and youths who were killed, apparently by a combination of loyalist gunmen and British troops, in February 1973.

An unusual feature of the case is that, although three of the six were teenage members of the IRA, the families of all those killed received government compensation.

Neither the army nor police are co-operating with the inquiry, which began yesterday and continues today. Among those taking part are Colin Harvey, professor of law at Leeds University and Don Mullan, author of a book on Bloody Sunday which was influential in the setting up of the Saville tribunal.

The inquiry is the latest in a series of initiatives launched in many parts of Ireland, north and south, by relatives of those killed in the Troubles. They are campaigning for more information about the deaths, in particular those caused by the security forces. Many of those involved complain that the authorities carried out inadequate investigations and remain reluctant to furnish relevant information.

In this case, campaigners complain that police took statements from a handful of witnesses and allege that the possibility of military wrongdoing was not followed up. Angela Ritchie, a solicitor, said yesterday that police had produced no documentation or clarification of any sort, and that no material had been disclosed by the Army.

During the 1970s the Catholic New Lodge district of Belfast was regarded as one of the most dangerous places in Northern Ireland, with probably the most concentrated death toll of any area. There were dozens of casualties from republican clashes with soldiers and frequent attacks on Catholics by loyalist gunmen from the nearby Shankill and Woodvale districts.

Witnesses told the inquiry yesterday that soldiers who were nearby had made no attempt to apprehend a car carrying gunmen who fired the shots, which started the sequence of six deaths, on the night of 3 February.

The gunmen opened fire on a Catholic bar, killing two youths who were outside. Although both were IRA members, they are said to have been unarmed. At an inquest, government counsel described them as innocent victims.

In the chaos which followed, four more people were killed. The Army claimed that about 12 gunmen fired at troops, who returned fire with almost 300 shots. Troops claimed they had hit six gunmen.

Locals contradicted the military version of events, saying that several of those killed were shot by troops after going to the aid of a wounded man.

One was reportedly waving a white sheet when he was hit. Six years later, his brother was shot dead in the New Lodge by loyalist gunmen.

In later legal proceedings, compensation was paid to the families of not just the three civilians killed but also the three members of the IRA, the money coming in at least four cases from the Ministry of Defence. According to Willie Loughran, who was related to one of those killed, the shootings were "the New Lodge's Bloody Sunday".

Mr Loughran, who helped organise the inquiry, said: "Thirty years on we are still trying to discover why our loved ones were killed. We know how they were killed, but we have never been told why they were murdered.

"This inquiry is the first opportunity we have had of establishing why six unarmed men were shot dead. Three of the people killed were members of the IRA, but that is not why they were shot. They were killed because they were Catholics living in the New Lodge."

The inquiry is supported by the local Catholic church authorities. The Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh, said: "The events have never been fully investigated.

"Almost 30 years on, this inquiry is to be welcomed. Like the families of the more than 3,000 people who suffered violent deaths, these families need to have their loss acknowledged. Finding the truth is an important part of this process."

Ms Peirce is best known for her work on the Guildford Four case and a film was made documenting her success. In the Name of the Father featured Emma Thompson as the lawyer, for which she won an Academy Award.