The Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor released previously unseen church documents that relatives claim will strengthen demands for a public inquiry into the killings of 11 people by British soldiers in West Belfast in 1971. A Roman catholic priest, and a mother of eight, were among those who were killed in the Ballymurphy area by solidiers from the British Army’s Parachute Regiment.
The documents released by Bishop Noel Treanor include eyewitness accounts taken two weeks after the shootings.
Bishop Treanor said that he is supporting calls for an independent international inquiry into the deaths and for a British government apology.
The families of those killed made similar calls last month following the release of the Bloody Sunday report in the deaths of 13 people who were killed by the same regiment in Derry in 1971
The Bishop also called on the British and Irish governments to discuss with the relevant institutions of the European Union, their potential role in encouraging and supporting just and constructive ways of dealing with the past.
According to the church, the Ballymurphy accounts include a serving member of the British army, a member of the British navy who returned to his ship shortly after the shootings and a former member of the Irish Guards.
One of those who were killed on August 9 1971 was Fr Hugh Mullan (38) (pictured) who was shot when he went to the aid of a wounded man.
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