Bishop Alan McGuckian
3rd May 2026
Parish of Corpus Christi
“Walking Together in the Light of Truth and Justice”
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Gathering with you as Bishop of Down and Connor in the parish of Corpus Christi in these days following the publication of the findings of the Springhill / Westrock inquest, it is abundantly clear that the legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland continues to cast a long shadow across communities, families and institutions. The findings of this inquest acknowledges that this is a moment of deep significance for the families of these unlawful killings, your wider parish community and for all who carry the memory of what happened here on 9th July 1972.
After more than fifty years, the Coroner, Mr Justice Scoffield, has clearly and unambiguously stated the truth: that three young children John Dougal, David McCafferty, Margaret Gargan, a father of a young family Patrick Butler, and a local priest Fr Noel Fitzpatrick were unlawfully killed by British Amry soldiers who ‘overreacted and lost control’ using force that was unreasonable and unjustified. While no legal finding can ever undo the pain of such loss, the public naming of this truth is of profound importance. Truth restores dignity to the deceased, and it brings a measure of justice to those who grieve.
I want to speak directly to the families who have carried this loss for generations. I pay tribute to each of you who have courageously sought truth and justice for your loved ones carrying the cross of grief, misinformation and injustice. You have lived too long with silence. You have borne your suffering with remarkable restraint and dignity. Your perseverance in the search for truth and justice has been vindicated. We stand along with you, honouring your loved ones, and acknowledging the long and painful road that you have travelled.
We remember Fr Noel Fitzpatrick, a priest of this diocese, who in faithfulness to his pastoral calling stood with you, his people, in a time of fear and violence. Alongside parishioners and neighbours, he ministered in the Church and on the streets to children and families, placing himself in harm’s way out of faith, love and solidarity. His life and death remain a powerful witness to the Gospel values of service, compassion, and reconciliation in the midst of conflict.
The path towards reconciliation and recovery in Northern Ireland can only be achieved by walking together in the light of truth and justice. Confronting the legacy of pain and suffering and working towards reconciliation remains essential because families still suffer, communities still mourn, and there are many who still seek truth, accountability and justice.
In my ministry as Bishop of Down and Connor, I continue to hear the voices of families and the wider community who fearlessly cry out longing for truth and justice, not for revenge. Your witness reminds us all, politicians and wider society, that reconciliation is not built on forgetting or denial, but on honesty and mutual recognition of suffering. While peace and stability are precious achievements, they must never come at the cost of excluding victims or silencing their voices. Where truth remains hidden or unresolved, it continues to erode trust and hinder reconciliation.
Credible, independent, and transparent processes that enable the pursuit of truth and justice are not obstacles to peace; they are its necessary and indispensable foundation.
To you, the parishioners of Corpus Christi, whose streets and homes continue to carry these memories and scars: I thank you for the quiet strength with which you have sustained one another over the years. I pray that the findings of this recent inquest, like the earlier findings into the Ballymurphy Massacre, may bring some peace and consolation, and that it may renew our shared commitment to building a better future for our children and young people.
May the God of mercy hold the dead in eternal peace, comfort all who mourn, and grant each of us the courage to walk together towards healing and reconciliation.
With my continued prayers and blessing,
+ Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ