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A coroner is expected to announce the conclusions of an inquest concerning the deaths of five individuals who were fatally shot nearly 54 years ago in Belfast. The victims, comprising three teenagers, a father of six, and a priest, lost their lives on 9 July 1972 in the Springhill estate area of west Belfast. The names of those killed are John Dougal (16), Patrick Butler (38), Father Noel Fitzpatrick (42), David McCafferty (15), and Margaret Gargan (13).
The families of the deceased have consistently maintained that the British Army was responsible for the shootings, a claim contested by soldiers who stated they were returning fire against armed attackers. An initial investigation into the incident was conducted in 1973, resulting in an open verdict by the coroner at that time. The deaths happened during one of the most violent years of the Troubles, which saw 472 fatalities linked to the conflict.
In a joint statement, the bereaved families expressed their ongoing pain and search for justice after more than five decades. They emphasized that the loss of their loved ones is not merely a matter of historical record but a deeply personal tragedy they continue to live with daily. “Each of those who died was an individual – deeply loved and still deeply missed. For us, this is not history; it is something we have lived with every day,” they said, reflecting on the emotional toll of the inquest.
Relatives shared poignant memories of the victims during the hearing. Harry Gargan, whose sister Margaret Gargan was only 13 when she died, recalled that she was returning home after helping organize a community bingo night when she was shot. Mary Judge, sister of John Dougal, described how his ambition was to join the Army and how his loss has profoundly affected the family. Jacqueline Butler spoke of her father, Patrick Butler, who was trying to aid the wounded amid the shooting, while Betty Kennedy and Ruth O’Reilly reflected on the heartbreak left by the deaths of David McCafferty and Father Noel Fitzpatrick, respectively, with the latter being remembered as a “gentle and charismatic person.”
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