Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today we met relatives of the 11 innocent civilians who were murdered in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, in 1971. Listening to their stories was absolutely harrowing and emotional in the extreme. The 11 people who were murdered by the parachute regiment of the British army included the parish priest who was killed while carrying a white flag. They also included a mother of eight children. In fact, 57 children lost a parent on that occasion and nobody has been held accountable for it. If justice had been administered then, we would never have had Bloody Sunday.

It was quite clear that all the relatives were asking for was that an independent panel, which is not a major undertaking, would be set up immediately to examine the cases. Some of the people who were shot were left lying all night, without any medical attention whatsoever, as they died. It is very easy to say we should forget the past but if one was a relative of those who were slaughtered on that occasion, it would be very difficult not to seek to have the names of their loved ones cleared. The relatives want an independent panel set up, something which would not take very long to do. The only way they will get that is if the Irish Government is determined, acts with energy and focus and continues to ask the British Prime Minister to do what is right.

If 11 people had been gunned down in Manchester, London or Birmingham, there is no doubt that an independent inquiry would be set up in a matter of days. Some 40 years after that terrible atrocity, which came after the introduction of internment, nothing has been done. We know full well that even if we decide to ignore it, it will not go away. Whether it happens in ten or 20 years' time, this matter has to be dealt with properly. Anybody who heard the relatives speak today would say that not only was an injustice done to the unarmed and innocent civilians who were slaughtered but a continuing injustice is being done to their relatives.