Ballymurphy Massacre Families to speak in Omagh

Families of some of the 11 civilians murdered by the British Army in Ballymurphy between 9 – 11 August 1971 are set to speak in Omagh. The Public Talk will take place in the Omagh Strule Arts Centre at 7pm on Friday 18th December and everyone is welcome, to hear the moving and emotive story of those tragic events, and the families’ quest for justice and truth.

Following the introduction of Internment in August 9th 1971, during Operation Demetrius, the British Army and in particular the notorious British parachute regiment attempted to ‘lock down’ the Ballymurphy area, and went on a killing spree that would claim the lives of 11 innocent civilians over the next 2 days, including Father Hugh Mullan, who was going to the aid of a wounded man. These tragic events would become known as the ‘Ballymurphy Massacre’.

Encouraging people to come along to the talk on the night, West Tyrone Ógra Shinn Féin chairperson Kerry McColgan said,

“The families of those murdered by the British Army in Ballymurphy have a long running campaign for truth and justice and will be coming to Omagh, to raise awareness and talk about their personal stories and their collective demands for an independent international inquiry that can help determine the truth and facts around the brutal deaths of their loved ones.”

“The notorious British parachute regiment, who demonstrated a trigger happy bloodlust in Ballymurphy on August 1971, went on to kill 14 innocent civilians on the streets of Derry only 5 months later on Bloody Sunday 1972. These brutal massacres are a blight on the British occupation of Ireland and the continuing concealment, and cover up is a constant slur on the British Governments commitment to a lasting peace in Ireland. We would ask you come along on the night to hear from the families, and assist them in their campaign for truth and justice.”