Relatives of those killed by the British army and the RUC to meet with SoS Shaun Woodward MP at Hillsborough
The family of Pearse Jordan, unarmed IRA Volunteer killed by the RUC on November 25th 1992, and relatives of 11 civilians killed by the British Army’s Parachute Regiment during internment 1971 in Ballymurphy will today hold separate meetings with the British Secretary of State Shaun Woodward at Hillsborough. The families will be accompanied by their MP Gerry Adams who has been working closely with them and who has facilitated today’s meetings.
Speaking in advance of this afternoon’s meeting Hugh Jordan, Pearse’s father, said;
‘This is an important opportunity for our family to outline directly our concerns regarding the current obstacles in place preventing a proper and transparent inquest into Pearse’s killing. For the last 17 years we have attended over 130 of almost 200 hearings regarding an inquest. This is an intolerable situation for any family. We will be asking Shaun Woodward to ensure that the Coroner and our lawyers receive the necessary material allowing the inquest to proceed uninterrupted.’
On behalf of the Ballymurphy families Briege Voyle, the daughter of Joan Connolly mother of eight, said;
‘Our families will be presenting the need for an independent investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the killings of 11 civilians in Ballymurphy in August 1971 by the Parachute Regiment. We will also be demanding that the British Government move swiftly to address the consequences of the cover-up and official lies that still persist around these deaths.‘ENDS
