Northern Ireland

Rubber bullet victim Francis Rowntree's brother says British Major's 'regret' falls short of 'sorry'

Francis Rowntree, (11), was shot by a rubber bullet in west Belfast in April 1972<br />&nbsp;
Francis Rowntree, (11), was shot by a rubber bullet in west Belfast in April 1972
 
Francis Rowntree, (11), was shot by a rubber bullet in west Belfast in April 1972
 

A FORMER army officer in charge of ground operations on the day a west Belfast schoolboy was hit on the head by a rubber bullet has expressed regret at his death.

Francis Rowntree died two days after he was struck by the military projectile while walking through the Divis Flats complex close to the Falls Road in April 1972 – one of the darkest years of the Troubles.

Addressing his family from the witness box at Belfast Coroner's Court, Major Trevor Veitch said: "I express regret that this has happened and it has taken 44 years to get more information that they have been seeking.

"It is an extremely sad thing that happened. Clearly I regret it."

The long-awaited inquest, ordered by Attorney General John Larkin, has been hearing oral evidence for a third day.

Major Veitch added: "I just hope that the information that has been given to them will make things a little clearer and a little more acceptable."

Controversy surrounds the shooting, with disputed claims on whether the boy was hit directly or injured by a ricochet, and if the bullet had been doctored to make it potentially cause more harm.

Major Veitch, a former company commander with 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, said he had never known baton rounds to be doctored.

He said: "I think it is a horrible idea and I could not believe it happened with my people. But, then you cannot see everything that goes on."

Although he has no specific memory of the day in question or the incident involving Francis, the ex-soldier said he was sure his unit would have been under threat when his solider fired the baton gun.

"I was convinced at that time that we were under threat," he said. "I was able to see through the side hatch, people were telling me from their view round the back.

"I had a very good idea of the threat."

The court heard that warnings were not routinely given before rubber bullets were deployed in 1972.

Although direct orders were not given by Major Veitch at the time Francis was hit, soldiers would have been aware of general orders to fire when under threat or to make an arrest, it was claimed.

The identity of the soldier who fired the baton round has been protected by a public interest immunity certificate but he was described in court as well-educated, modern in his approach and had a good rapport with junior colleagues.

Major Veitch said: "He was very calm. I had never seen him, at that time, lose his cool and lose his control."

When asked by Martin Wolfe QC, representing the MoD, if the soldier was level headed, he replied: "Yes."

Francis Rowntree suffered extensive skull fractures and lacerations of the brain and died in hospital on April 22 1972.

A Royal Anglian Second Lieutenant had been shot dead days earlier, the court was told.

It was a busy and dangerous time, said Major Veitch who was on his first tour of duty of the Troubles.

"I had been fired at by armour piercing round. I had been ambushed on several occasions but most fiercely on the 19th (April) by four girls. They were very young and all had machine guns and caught me in the middle of Divis Street."

It was also revealed the Royal Anglians lost eight soldiers during 1972 and 17 troops throughout Northern Ireland's 30-year conflict.

Soldier B is expected to give evidence via video link later on Wednesday.

A report by the now defunct Historical Enquiries Team found Francis Rowntree was an innocent bystander.

Outside the court, the schoolboy's older brother Jim Rowntree said he would have preferred the ex-army officer to have said sorry.

He said: "Regret and sorry are two completely different words. You can say you regret it is raining but you don't say you are sorry for it."