British Army killed innocent man - 1971 state execution revealed on FIDDAMAN counterpoint blog

HET report says Army killed innocent man

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14491708

Mr McKavanagh was shot dead by the Army in 1971 A Catholic shot dead by the Army in August 1971 in Northern Ireland was innocent, a report by the Historic Enquiries Team has said.

Billy McKavanagh, 21, was shot in the back as he ran away when confronted by soldiers in the Markets area near Belfast city centre, the report said.

The soldier responsible maintains that the person he shot was armed.

The HET, however, said he was not carrying the weapon, a rivet gun which had been looted and left in the street.

The report said it had been picked up by members of Mr McKavanagh's group.

"Billy's death was an absolute tragedy that should not have happened," the HET said.

"He was an innocent man who did nothing more than pick up a pair of waders that had been stolen by someone else and then run away when confronted by the Army."

The HET is a team of detectives investigating conflict murders.

The victim's family has called for an army apology.

Lost Lives, a book which chronicles every death during the Northern Ireland Troubles, said Mr McKavanagh's body was found in McAuley Street, not far from his home at Henrietta Street.

It added that the army claimed he was a gunman but the IRA said neither he, not his brother or cousin who were arrested after the shooting, were members of the republican movement.

It said the Northern Star, a publication by the People's Democracy movement, was critical of British press reports which said the Royal Green Jackets had laid siege to a bakery for several hours and killed a sniper after advancing under a hailcounterpoint blog of bullets.

Lost Lives continued: "The Northern Star report went on to say that due to 'excellent detective work' by Michael Heney of the Irish Times, it was established that the dead man was shot some 150 yards from Inglis's Bakery 'after panicking after having received into his possession a pair of looted fishing waders, when he was ordered to stop'".

"An army press officer, asked to comment on the evidence, was reported to have said: 'There was a lot of confusion about that night. In fact, there was no sniper shot in Inglis's factory - that is correct'".