THE daughter of a North Belfast man shot dead by a British soldier says her father remains an innocent man 55 years on.
This week the Pat Finucane Centre published a new detailed report into the murder of Christopher Quinn. The 39 year-old father-of-five was gunned down in Unity Flats on November 4, 1971.
Christopher was a member of the Catholic Ex-Servicemen's Association (CESA) and on the night of his death was covering a neighbour's shift, patrolling the area around Unity Flats, ensuring that the small Catholic enclave at the foot of the Shankill was safe. He was unarmed and presented no threat.
An inquest into his killing in April 1972 returned an open verdict with Coronor James Elliott describing the evidence as "confusing" and finding it impossible to determine if it was a "justifiable killing".
Speaking to the Andersonstown News at the launch of the report, Christopher's daughter Roberta O'Neill says that she wants to soldier who murdered her father charged with murder.
"This report means a lot to the family. My father was an innocent man from day one. 55 years later he is still an innocent man," she said.
"My father has missed out on so much. He was a good man, a very happy-go-lucky person. He was well-liked, loved his family and his children.
"I was only nine-years-old when he was killed. My mother fought for years for justice. I promised her I would continue fighting and after that my children hopefully will fight too.
"She was 83-years-old when she died and she never let an hour pass without mentioning daddy's name.
"All she wanted was an apology and public clarification that he was not a gunman.
"The British Government and British Army have been a disgrace over the years. My father was not a gunman. They need to come out and say my father was innocent and admit their wrongs.
"55 years on, the truth is simple for me. My father was gunned down – murdered. I would like the soldier who did it to apologise, not just for murdering my father. He needs to apologise for destroying our family and for stealing my mother's health and happiness.
"He also needs to know that he wiped out the childhood happiness of my brothers and sisters and left us in a dark place.
"I would like to see the soldier charged with the murder of my father."
Paul O'Connor from The Pat Finucane Centre, who helped compile the report, uncovered documents from the High Court which awarded Christopher's widow just £500 in damages from the British Ministry of Defence despite the case initially valued at £10,000.
"The report contains declassified documents which state the Ministry of Defence knew Christopher Quinn was unarmed and a civilian.
"They forced his widow to go to court to prove his innocence, even though they knew he was innocent. They also gave her a payment of £500. It is an absolute disgrace.
"We have raised it with numerous Secretaries of State and they say the widow signed an agreement at the time.
"These reports are one of the most important things we do for families to ensure that Christopher is never forgotten."
