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Rubber-bullet death inquest to examine state papers

A FRESH inquest into the death of a young Belfast boy is expected to examine documents showing the British government deployed rubber bullets despite knowing that they could be lethal. A preliminary inquiry in the case of 11-year-old Francis Rowntree will open today. Francis, from Lower Clonard Street in west Belfast, died in April 1972 when he was struck on the head with a rubber bullet. At his original inquest, British soldiers claimed the projectile ricocheted off a lamppost.

However, fresh evidence that he was shot directly and at close range has led to the new hearing. It is also expected to consider new information about rubber bullets published by human rights' group the Pat Finucane Centre this week. The evidence - in declassified documents - show that the British government knew how lethal rubber bullets could be before they allowed them to be used on the streets of Northern Ireland from 1970 to 1975. The files relate to a compensation case taken by Derry rubber bullet victim Richard Moore in 1977.