THE families of 11 people killed by the British army in the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast in 1971 have come together for the unveiling of a new mural in memory of their loved ones.
Former victims commissioner Patricia MacBride unveiled the new piece of artwork, which is located on the international wall on the Falls Road. The artwork, which carries the slogan 'Ballymurphy Massacre Time For Our Truth', replaced a mural of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, which attracted media attention earlier this month when it was painted as he was questioned about the 1972 murder of mother-of-10 Jean McConville. Muralist Danny Devenney said Mr Adams had requested that the mural be painted over "as he thought there were more important issues that the space could be used for".
The new mural unveiled yesterday comes as the families of those killed in Ballymurphy continue to campaign for an independent international inquiry into the circumstances of the deaths.
Eleven people, including a Catholic priest, Fr Hugh Mullan, and a mother-of-eight, were shot and killed by the British army during a 36-hour period from Monday August 9 to August 11 following the introduction of internment.
* ARTWORK: Breige Voyle, whose mother Joan Connolly was one of 11 people shot dead by the British army in Ballymurphy in 1971, former victims commissioner Patricia MacBride and muralist Danny Devenney at the unveiling of the new Ballymurphy families' mural on the Falls road in west Belfast PICTURE: Hugh Russell