Police Appeal Over Troubles Shootings

Police are appealing for information in connection with number of shootings, two of which were fatal, in Belfast in 1972.

Detectives from the PSNI's Legacy Investigation Branch are continuing to investigate the activities of the Military Reaction Force (MRF), an Army unit operating in the city at the time.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery, from Legacy Investigation Branch, explained: "We have been carrying out enquiries in relation to a number of shooting incidents between April and September 1972, during which two people were killed and a number of others were injured. We are looking at these incidents as part of an overall investigation into the activities of the Military Reaction Force at the time.

"We know these events took place a long time ago and we know they took place during one of the worst years of the Troubles when many shootings occurred but we believe there are people out there who can help us progress this investigation and we are appealing to them to contact us."

The incidents under investigation are:

• The fatal shooting of 44-year-old Patrick McVeigh and shootings of four other men, aged 18, 25, 26 and 41, in the Riverdale Park area of west Belfast on 12 May, 1972.

• The fatal shooting of 18-year-old Daniel Rooney and shooting of a 18 year old man in the St James Crescent area of west Belfast on 26 September, 1972.

• The shooting of two brothers, aged 19 and 30, in the Whiterock Road area of west Belfast, at approximately 8am on 15 April, 1972.

• The shooting of an 18-year-old man in the Glen Road area of west Belfast at approximately 9pm on 6 May, 1972.

• The shooting of a 15-year-old boy outside a disco at Oliver Plunkett School, Glen Road, Belfast, at approximately 11:50pm on 7 May, 1972.

• The shooting of an 18-year-old man in the Slievegallion area of west Belfast at approximately 11:30pm on 12 May, 1972.

• The shooting at a 34-year-old man in the Silvio Street area of north Belfast at approximately 12:20pm on 26 May, 1972.

• The shooting of four men, aged 18, 19, 21 and 28, in the Glen Road area of west Belfast, at approximately 12 midday, on 22 June, 1972

• An incident during which a white Austin Morris vehicle, VRM COI8368, was shot at by a male who got out of what is believed to have been a stalled vehicle in the Kashmir Road area of west Belfast at approximately 2pm on 9 May, 1972.

Detective Chief Inspector Montgomery added: "Some of these incidents have been investigated before and people have been arrested or appeared in court in relation to some of them. There are also others which have not been investigated until now.

"But in order to progress this investigation, I need as much information from the public as possible. I am appealing to anyone who witnessed any of the shootings or anyone who has any further information in relation to them to come forward and talk to us. I also want to speak to former members of the MRF who served in Northern Ireland and would ask them to come forward and speak to my officers."

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said: "The PSNI investigators looking into the activities of the MRF have now appealed for information about 18 shootings, including two killings.

"Members of the MRF were involved in drive-by shootings of nationalist civilians which security sources then blamed on loyalists.

"This unit were members of, and directed by, the British army so the British government bears full responsibility for their actions.

"They have a duty and a responsibility to co-operate with the PSNI investigation.

"To date the British government has absolutely failed to live up to its responsibilities on dealing with the past.

"It needs to step up to the plate and come clean on the activities of MRF and its other state agencies which were involved in the targeting and killing of Irish people."

(CD)