Seamus Duffy

15 year-old Seamus Duffy who was shot-dead by a plastic bullet fired from a passing RUC patrol on August 9th 1989 while returning home from an internment night bonfire in the New Lodge area of North Belfast. At the time of Seamus' killing there was no rioting. Immediately after his death the RUC said that they would appoint a 'top policeman' to investigate the exact circumstances of the death as they believed that Seamus did not die as a result of being hit by a plastic bullet.

As this was announced the then Northern Secretary, Peter Brooke, made a public statement on plastic bullets in which he pre-empted any inquiry stating that: 'There are no grounds for suggesting their use last night was other than in accordance with the law'. 

Another RUC statement read: 'If there is no rioting, there will be no plastic baton rounds'. The ground was being prepared to justify the killing of Seamus. August 1989 was the 20th anniversary of the start of the Troubles and drew large domestic and international media attention. Numerous photojournalists and film crews had been in the vacinity and attended the bonfire. They had also recorded some earlier disturbances involving the RUC and some local youths. The RUC seized film footage and camera film from a number of journalists.

Seamus Duffy was wearing a Glasgow Celtic soccer jersey when killed and speculation suggested that because of this he was singled out and shot as he made his way home with a friend. Televised interviews with Seamus' companion that evening, Mark Brown, were also confiscated. The inquest into Seamus' death took place in June 1990 and focused attention on some of the video evidence that was previously seized. It was claimed by the RUC that Seamus was visible in some footage in his Celtic jersey stoning the RUC. However, the person was unidentifiable from the footage, in fact the Celtic jersey on this unidentified person was of a different type to that worn by Seamus.

Amazingly it was revealed at the inquest that two RUC officers who had made written statements admitting firing plastic bullets at Seamus had made their statements only after viewing the seized video material. And had stated that they had fired only during rioting. The jury found that at the time of Seamus' killing that he was not engaged in any rioting and that there was no rioting at the time of his killing. Though there had been rioting earlier. The DPP refused to initiate proceedings on the grounds that it was impossible to establish which RUC officer fired the fatal shot.

The bullet that struck Seamus was fired, according to the pathologist, from a distance of 6 to 7 metres. The RUC statements, which were read to the court, said that they had been fired at distance of 43 meters at an identified rioter wearing a Celtic jersey. The rules governing the use of plastic bullets state clearly that they are not to be fired from a distance of less than 20 metres.

The plastic bullet that hit Seamus crushed his heart and tore a four-inch laceration in his left lung. Summing up the Coroner, James Elliott, echoed the sentiments expressed in the initial statement of the RUC that if there were no rioting, there would be no plastic baton rounds. 80 plastic bullets were fired that evening.

Since the killing the family have been vocal critics of the RUC campaigning tirelessly for the banning of plastic bullets. They have also been the target for a concentrated campaign of harassment and intimidation by members of the RUC. Often they have taunted the family over the killing.