THE daughter of a woman shot dead by British soldiers in West Belfast more than half a century ago says her mother's name has been finally cleared.
Mother-of-four Maura Meehan (30) died alongside her sister Dorothy Maguire (19) when soldiers opened fire on a car in which they were passengers in Cape Street in the Lower Falls area on October 23, 1971.
Sisters Dorothy and Maura
At the time the British Army claimed that shots had been fired and that a nail bomb had been thrown from the vehicle. However, eyewitnesses strongly disputed that account. Witnesses maintained that no shots had been fired from the car, that neither woman was armed and that there had been no disturbance in the area immediately prior to the shooting. Eyewitnesses further stated that soldiers opened fire almost immediately.
The original investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Royal Military Police after an arrangement between the British Army and the RUC under which killings involving soldiers were investigated by the Army itself. This investigation lacked the independence required of an effective investigation, given that those investigating the death were members of the same organisation as the soldiers involved in the shooting.
Last Friday Maura's daughter Margaret Kennedy reached an undisclosed settlement in her claim for damages against the Ministry of Defence at the High Court in Belfast.
Damages were sought for assault and battery and breaches of the plaintiff’s human rights.
Margaret believes the resolution of these proceedings has vindicated her mother's memory and addressed allegations that had cast a shadow over her reputation for many decades. She is satisfied that the litigation has achieved its purpose.
Speaking to the Andersonstown News Margaret said: “For over 50 years my family has had to live with the loss of my mother.
"Bringing this case was never simply about obtaining a legal remedy. It was about seeking the truth, establishing accountability and ensuring that my mother's name was cleared. I am content with the outcome that has been achieved.
"My childhood ended that day. It broke me.
"I remember the day after she was murdered, the local residents had set up two boards with RIP Maura and RIP Dorothy and there was still blood on the ground from them being taken out of the car. I still have nightmares about that.
"Until Friday we got no justice for 55 years. I was physically, emotionally and mentally tired. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support of Relatives for Justice.
"The only reason I kept going was to get my mummy's name cleared.
"I couldn't move on from it. I was so angry and frustrated. I knew my mummy was innocent all along.
"My mummy was taken away from me. I would have given everything to have her at different stages through my life like my wedding day. We have all lost out as a family. All we have is a photograph of her.
"I choked up on Friday in the court. I came outside and raised my hands up to the sky and said, mummy, we did it.
"I believe this process has vindicated the decision to bring these proceedings and has helped restore my mother's reputation.
"While nothing can undo the pain my family has endured, I feel that we have finally reached a point where her name has been cleared."
Maura's brother, Micky Maguire said he was "over the moon" when he heard the news on Friday.
"I couldn't get over it. There were tears running down my cheeks," he said. "It is hard to believe it has been 55 years. I was 26 at the time.
"From day one, we knew they were murdered and they were innocent. The soldiers opened up on them and fired into the back of the car."
Mark Thompson from Relatives for Justice said: "For more than five decades, the circumstances of Maura's death, and the adequacy of the investigations that followed, remained matters of profound concern for her family and the wider community. These proceedings challenged not only the circumstances surrounding her killing, but also the failure of the State to provide an adequate, effective and human rights compliant investigation into her death over the intervening 55 years."
Gary Duffy, Solicitor for the Kennedy family, welcomed the resolution of the proceedings.
"Mrs Kennedy has pursued this case with determination, dignity and courage over many years," he said. This case is another example of how High Court actions remain a vital mechanism for addressing legacy issues arising from the conflict.
"This settlement brings a measure of closure for the family and demonstrates that, notwithstanding the absence of other investigative mechanisms, the courts remain an important avenue through which bereaved families can pursue truth and justice. We pay tribute to Margaret Kennedy's perseverance in pursuing justice on behalf of her mother and in seeking to restore her good name.”
