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Coroner appeals to public for information about 1971 death of Joseph Parker

&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Joseph Parker was shot dead by the British army at a Christmas dance in 1971</span>
 Joseph Parker was shot dead by the British army at a Christmas dance in 1971  Joseph Parker was shot dead by the British army at a Christmas dance in 1971

A CORONER has directly appealed to the public for information about the shooting dead of a man by the British army at a Christmas dance.

The inquest into the death of Joseph Parker on December 12 1971 is due to be held in November.

Mr Parker, who was 25 and a married father-of-one, was killed in disputed circumstances when soldiers opened fire at a community centre in Ardoyne during a disco.

The episode unfolded when troops entered Toby's Hall, which no longer exists, claiming to be searching for a suspect.

Mr Parker, from Eskdale Gardens in Ardoyne, was shot in both thighs. He died two days later.

Soldiers said they fired a series of shots into the roof and walls amid concerns for their safety – claims which were disputed by witnesses.

A preliminary inquest was held in April this year during which Mr Parker's family asked for permission to exhume his body. The family wanted tests to be carried out on bullet fragments in an attempt to identify the weapon used.

Coroner Joe McCrisken ruled against this in July saying it would be impossible to make a match because the guns had been destroyed and it was not an inquest's function to try to trace potential suspects.

Now Mr McCrisken has made an appeal ahead of the full inquest for anyone who can assist in examining the death to contact the Coroners Service. A witness surgery is being held to facilitate this on September 28 at Ardoyne Community Centre from 10am to 7pm.

"There may, for example, be persons with relevant information concerning the death but who have not yet brought that information to the attention of the authorities or persons who were in the vicinity of Toby's Hall on the night of Joseph Parker's death," the Coroners Service said.