Northern Ireland

Troubles inquests which could be affected by PSNI disclosure revelation

Henry Thornton (29) was shot by a soldier in west Belfast in August 1971
Henry Thornton (29) was shot by a soldier in west Belfast in August 1971 Henry Thornton (29) was shot by a soldier in west Belfast in August 1971

COMPLETED inquests which could be impacted by the revelation the PSNI did not disclose military intelligence material in its possession since 2007.

  •  Henry Thornton (29), from Silverbridge, Co Armagh, was working in west Belfast in August 1971 when he was shot dead by a solider close to Springfield Road RUC station after the van he was driving backfired.

The British army issued a statement claiming that two shots had been fired from the van, and the original inquest returned an open verdict.

Following a fresh inquest coroner Brian Sherrard found in June 2016 that the shooting of the father-of-six was not "necessary, reasonable or proportionate". His widow Mary welcomed the findings.

Mary Thornton (widow) and Damian Thornton (son) of Henry Thornton.
Mary Thornton (widow) and Damian Thornton (son) of Henry Thornton. Mary Thornton (widow) and Damian Thornton (son) of Henry Thornton.
  • Barney Watt (28) was shot dead during rioting in Ardoyne in February 1971, with soldiers claiming he was throwing a device at military personnel.

In April 2017 coroner Joe McCrisken said he was "satisfied, based upon the evidence available to me at inquest, that Barney Watt was not the man described by the soldiers holding the explosive device". Mr Watt's widow Teresa said at the time she was glad to have her husband's name cleared.

  • Joseph Parker (25) was fatally shot in the thighs after a patrol of soldiers entered a dance at Toby's Hall in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast in December 1971. He had an 18-month-old daughter and his wife was heavily pregnant at the time.

In November last year coroner Joseph McCrisken said he was "satisfied that the force used against Joseph Parker was not justified since he posed no threat to members of the patrol". His wife Dorothy died before the inquest was completed.

Joseph Parker was shot dead at a dance hall in Ardoyne in north Belfast in 1971
Joseph Parker was shot dead at a dance hall in Ardoyne in north Belfast in 1971 Joseph Parker was shot dead at a dance hall in Ardoyne in north Belfast in 1971
  • Marian Brown (17) was shot in the neck moments after kissing her boyfriend goodnight at Roden Street in Belfast in June 1972. The teen, who was pregnant at the time, was struck by a stray bullet amid an alleged exchange of gunfire between an army patrol and at least one paramilitary gunman.

Following a fresh inquest, Judge David McFarland is due to deliver his findings in the case later this year.

17-year-old Marian Brown was shot dead in west Belfast in 1972
17-year-old Marian Brown was shot dead in west Belfast in 1972 17-year-old Marian Brown was shot dead in west Belfast in 1972