Victim's family demands justice
By Roisin Cox
THE 27th anniversary of the death of 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty, shot dead in Derry during Operation Motorman on 31 July 1972, was marked by a call from Daniel's family that the British army accept responsibility for his death and publicly state that he was completely innocent.
The Hegarty family want to clear their son's name because he has been described in press reports and by the British army as a `terrorist'. The unarmed Derry teenager was shot dead at almost point-blank range by British soldiers who invaded Creggan in one of the biggest movements of British troops in Ireland since partition. The invasion of the no-go areas in Derry and Belfast were designed to destroy the IRA, but the IRA had already withdrawn from Derry City.
The only casualties were Daniel Hegarty and IRA Volunteer Seamus Bradley, who was also killed in disputed circumstances.
Reports at the inquest said that the soldiers who killed Daniel Hegarty, members of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, claimed that three armed figures ran towards them despite repeated warnings to stop. The three figures were in fact Daniel Hegarty and his two cousins, Thomas and Christopher Hegarty, all of whom were unarmed. One of the soldiers, identified at the inquest only as `Soldier B', claimed that two of the teenagers were hit from a distance of 25 yards. This claim has always been refuted by eyewitnesses who were never called to give evidence at the inquest but who have stated that Daniel's body was only six feet from the soldiers. This claim is even strongly backed by an RUC detective inspector who headed the investigation and who has confirmed that bloodstains were just seven feet from the soldiers' position.
Thomas Hegarty's version of events also completely contradicts the soldiers' account.
He has stated that after the shooting he was arrested. Although the British army claimed that Thomas was armed at the time of the shooting, he was released within seconds. He wasn't searched and the soldiers did not ask his name. Like other witnesses to the shooting, Thomas has never been called upon to give evidence.
The Pat Finucane Centre in Derry has compiled a report on the murder which includes eyewitness accounts and analysis of the inquest. The report has now been forwarded to the British goverment's `Minister for Victims', Adam Ingram.
A spokesperson for the human rights group said: ``There are discrepancies concerning several key aspects of the incidents which leaves unanswered questions.''
Adam Ingram's office has said that the report is currently being studied and that the British army had stated in the past that they would co operate with a new inquiry into the shootings.
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