``Self inflicted'' murder
``It is clearly possible that Mr. McCooey himself provided part of the
force which led to his injuries'', claimed the judge whilst summing up
in a Belfast court last Thursday. In a typical white-wash operation a
British soldier was found `not guilty' of `unlawfully killing' Danny
McCooey. So ridiculous was the verdict that Danny's father
immediately protested verbally and was thrown bodily out of the court
by members of the hated RUC.
Danny McCooey, a 20-year-old youth from Beechmount, Belfast, died in
hospital in May two years ago. he died three weeks after being
viciously beaten in the stomach with a rifle butt by Gunner Frederick
Heads of the 25th Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
Danny McCooey and his friend Michael Masterson were out for their
usual Saturday night's entertainment on April 30th 1977. They spent
the later part of the evening in the 3 C's Social Club and left
shortly after midnight to get a taxi home from Castle Street.
Phoblacht, March 10th 1979
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