Force used against 16-year-old boy 'not reasonable', inquest finds
An inquest into the 1972 Springhill shootings in west Belfast has found that the force used against 16-year-old John Dougal was not reasonable, as he was likely running away and unarmed when shot. The judge concluded that a soldier, referred to as Soldier A, was most likely responsible for Dougal's death, with no evidence of a warning being given before the fatal shot. The inquest, part of a broader examination of five deaths during a period of intense conflict, sought to clarify whether the victims were killed by military or paramilitary gunfire.
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Force used against 16-year-old boy 'not reasonable', inquest findsJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePACEMAKERFamilies of the dead held up a banner on their way into the courtAn inquest into the shooting of five people in west Belfast has heard that the force used against a 16-year-old boy was "not reasonable".John Dougal was among the five who were shot in the Springhill estate, west Belfast on 9 July 1972. The others were Patrick Butler, 38; Father Noel Fitzpatrick, 42; David McCafferty, 15; and Margaret Gargan, 13.Their families believe they were killed by the Army and said they are seeking the truth.Soldiers at the time said they had been firing at gunmen.Delivering findings on Thursday, Mr Justice Scoffield said John Dougal had been shot while he was "more than likely running…
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