Brandon Lewis says UK Government "truly sorry" for Ballymurphy deaths
Last updated 13th May 2021
Northern Ireland’s Secretary of State has said the UK Government is “truly sorry” for the events that took place in West Belfast in August 1971.
Earlier this week Coroner Mrs Justice Keegan found the 10 people killed in Ballymurphy 50 years ago were “entirely innocent.”
She found that nine of the 10 had been killed by soldiers, and that the use of lethal force was not justified.
In a statement to the House of Commons today (Thursday) Brandon Lewis began by acknowledging the “terrible hurt'' which had been caused to the families and paying tribute to them for their patience during their campaign for justice.
He said: “The Prime Minister is writing personally to the families and expressed his deep regret to the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland yesterday, and has apologised unreservedly on behalf of the state.
“The findings of the coroner are clear, those who died were entirely innocent of wrongdoing. The events at Ballymurphy should never have happened.
“The families of those who were killed should never have had to experience the grief and trauma of that loss.
“They should have not had to wait almost five decades for judgment this week, nor been compelled to relive that terrible time in August 1971 again and again in their long and distressing quest for the truth.''
He added: “There is no doubt that what happened on those awful few days in Ballymurphy also fuelled further violence and escalation, particularly in the early years of the Troubles.
“The Government profoundly regrets and is truly sorry for these events and how investigations after these terrible events were handled, and for the additional pain that the families have had to endure in their fight to clear the names of their loved ones.''
On Wednesday, families of those killed by soldiers in Ballymurphy rejected a “third party apology'' from the UK Prime Minister.
The leader of the SDLP, Colum Eastwood, has also called on Boris Johnson to “come out of hiding'' and meet the families of the Ballymurphy victims.
Mr Eastwood told the Commons: “Will the Secretary of State ask the Prime Minister to come out of hiding, come with me, meet the Ballymurphy families and tell them to their faces why he wants to protect their killers?''
Mr Lewis replied: “What I would say to (Mr Eastwood), as I've outlined already today, that the Prime Minister is contacting the families directly, as well as his public apology on behalf of the State, and his conversation with the First and Deputy First Minister which I joined him for yesterday.''
He added: “But obviously, we will be considering that report in more detail in the period ahead in order to ensure that we are able to reflect properly on that report.''
Mr Lewis told MPs that “it is right that we take accountability for the actions that were unacceptable''.
Families of people who were killed at Ballymurphy arrive the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Belfast
A poignant backdrop for Tuesday's press conference at the Corpus Christi youth club in Belfast.
People from Ballymurphy bang lids on the ground as a cavalcade of cars pass through Ballymurphy, thanking the community for its support over the past 50 years.
Neighbours and families of the 10 victims of the Ballymurphy killings gather on the Whiterock Road of the greater Ballymurphy area
John Teggart and Breige Voyle representing the families of the 10 victims of the Ballymurphy killings release white doves in the greater Ballymurphy area in west Belfast to thank the community for their support.
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