Shot Teenager's Mother Challenges HET

A mother whose sixteen-year-old son was shot dead by the Army in Northern Ireland is to take legal action against the team that investigated his death.

The Historical Enquiries Team (HET) recently re-examined the murder of Gerard Gibson, who was killed in July 1972.

The family of the teenager says HET has breached the nature of the independent inquiry by not informing them the investigation was being led by a former RUC officer.

At the time of Mr Gibson’s death, the RUC and Army both said he had been an IRA gunman. This claim was later discounted.

He died from a single gunshot to wound to the head after being shot by a soldier in the Lenadoon area on 11 July 1972.

The investigation carried out by the HET found they were unable to identify the soldier who fired the shot.

Now Gerard Gibson’s family have rejected the findings, accusing the HET of failing to honour its pledge of independence.

They say they were only informed the investigation was led by a former RUC officer following the completion of the report.

The teenager's mother Elizabeth Gibson’s lawyers have applied for a judicial review and are asking the courts to order a new inquiry.

(IT/GK)