Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If the Chair tells me when Mr. Molloy is able to join us again, we can then work it out that way. I welcome Mr. Teggart, Ms Quinn and Mr. Ó Muirigh. It is significant that the witnesses are here today because there is cross-party support within this committee. In that regard, we must come out of this meeting having made some concrete decisions that will help the Ballymurphy families in future. I had the humbling experience of joining the families for a few days of the inquest and seeing first-hand what they were going through.

It resonated with me when Ms Quinn commented on the attitude of some of the soldiers, in respect of the witness statements given. I found the reported attitude and demeanour of the soldiers to be most shocking. I can absolutely understand how the lack of accountable justice to which the families should have access is preventing them from healing. The challenge being presented to us today is to determine how that justice can be delivered and to look at the deficit in the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement.

My first question is as follows: can the witnesses put into words how the families felt when Ms Justice Keegan declared that all those who were killed were innocent and they knew they had succeeded in correcting the lies that demonised and dehumanised their loved ones?

I address my second question, in respect of the right of the families to an independent investigation, to Mr. Teggart. What, specifically, do we need to do to move that on to ensure it happens in a speedy way, if one can use the term "speedy" after a period of 50 years has elapsed? I ask him to outline the terms of reference that would be required within that investigation.

I suggest that as a committee, on a solid and cross-party basis, we write to the British Prime Minister and specifically set out the actions that we need him to take at this moment in time. Indeed, we should also set out the actions that we need our Taoiseach to take in terms of putting pressure on the British Prime Minister. I understand Mr. Teggart's point that we need more than words. We need to apply pressure. I ask him to outline exactly how he sees that pressure from the committee manifesting itself.

I wish to thank the witnesses for attending the committee today. I also endorse Mr. Maskey's idea of us visiting the sites of the Ballymurphy massacre and the Springhill massacre as soon as regulations allow us to do so.