Family still want justice despite MOD paying out for 1971 Londonderry shooting death

The family of a man who was fatally shot by a soldier in Londonderry during The Troubles have secured a financial settlement from the Ministry of Defence.

Billy McGreanery, 41, was shot at the junction of Eastway, Lonemoor Road and Westland Street late in the evening of 14 September 1971.

He underwent surgery at Altnagelvin Hospital but died in the early hours of the following day.

In 2013, Mr McGreanery's family received a public apology from then-Armed Forces Minister Andrew Robathan, and they requested a fresh inquest be conducted into his death.

The case was referred to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in 2017, which directed the Police Service of Northern Ireland to carry out several enquiries.

Following an investigation, the PPS took the decision not to prosecute an individual known as Soldier A in relation to Mr McGreanery's death.

The family have requested a review of this decision, which is ongoing.

Earlier this year, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, Dame Brenda King, directed a fresh inquest into the circumstances of Mr McGreanery's death.

However, this did not take place because of the Legacy Act, which halted all legacy inquests.

Mr McGreanery's nephew, who is also called Billy McGreanery, welcomed the payment – the amount of which has not been disclosed, but he said the family still hoped to get justice.

He said: "Today the Ministry of Defence have made a financial retribution for the death, pain, anguish and sorrow they have inflicted on our family.

"I liken this process to a three-course meal that we fought very hard for and earned.

"The starter was the apologies for the wrongful killing of Billy, and today is the dessert, financial retribution.

"But they skipped the main course – justice – which we have hungered for for 53 years, and for which we can only hope."