Ballymurphy Families To Start Legal Action Against MoD

The families of 10 people shot dead by the Army in 1971 are to start legal proceedings against the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

They represent those killed in Ballymurphy, in west Belfast, after the government introduced internment - imprisonment without trial.

The relatives will hand a letter into Downing Street on Tuesday to inform the MoD of their plans.

Speaking to the BBC, John Teggart, whose father was one of those shot dead, said:

"The outcome that we would hope that those responsible - the MoD the paratroopers - will admit what happened and admit responsibility."

This is the latest stage of a campaign to have access to Government files related to the case. 

In September, the families walked out of a meeting with Secretary of State James Brokenshire after urging him to release funds for inquests into the shootings.

In August 1971, 10 people were shot dead by Parachute Regiment members over three days, including a priest and a mother of eight.

An 11th person died of a heart attack after a confrontation involving a soldier.

Cover picture courtesy of Facebook/Ciaran Cahill.