Joe McCann – British soldiers acquitted in assassination trial
Commenting on the recent news today, Lasair Dhearg spokesperson Pádraic MacCoitir said:
“In April 1972 Joe McCann, an Official IRA volunteer, was gunned down by the British army in Joy Street, Belfast. Unarmed, he was shot in the back, with multiple bullet casings found close to his body – indicating they had shot him at close range whilst he lay on the ground.”
“Since the killing his family and friends have been seeking justice, and despite that they have been facing down the full corruption of the British state, they managed to attain charges against two soldiers involved in his killing. British establishment figures have always stood by their soldiers – who have killed and massacred many Irish people, such as those killed in Derry and Ballymurphy. They are unchanged in their support today.”
He continued: “Last week as the ‘trial’ commenced many of us following it were very sceptical of any convictions and this came to be the case – with the unfortunate news of the acquittal of those two British soldiers.”
“This will no doubt give others who were involved in other killings a lot of confidence, but it won’t stop the families of loved ones seeking justice for those so cruelly cut down in a conflict that has still not been resolved.”
ENDS
