Northern Ireland

Ballymurphy eyewitness tells of last words of mother-of-eight Joan Connolly

Representatives of the Teggart, Connolly, Murphy and Philips families arrive at the Ballymurphy inquest at Laganside Courts in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
Representatives of the Teggart, Connolly, Murphy and Philips families arrive at the Ballymurphy inquest at Laganside Courts in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Representatives of the Teggart, Connolly, Murphy and Philips families arrive at the Ballymurphy inquest at Laganside Courts in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

AN eyewitness has told the Ballymurphy inquest how he heard the last words of mother-of-eight Joan Connolly after she was shot in the face.

John Maguire (84) told the hearing into the deaths of 10 people in west Belfast between August 9-11 1971 how he heard 44-year-old Mrs Connolly crying "I can't see, I can't see".

Mr Maguire said he had been talking to friends on the Springfield Road on August 9 shortly before shooting began from a nearby army base where members of the Parachute Regiment were stationed.

Taking cover behind a pillar at the entrance to an area of waste ground, he said he watched as 44-year-old Danny Teggart was shot in the back while running.

Mr Maguire said Mr Teggart, a father-of-13, was unarmed.

Describing Mrs Connolly, Mr Maguire said she cried out "I can't see, I can't see" after being shot, saying he believed her voice had weakened before she lost consciousness.

He said shooting continued despite his friend, Tommy Delaney, waving a white hanky on a stick.

Mr Maguire described how after a while an armoured vehicle drove through the gates into the waste ground and a soldier emerged and fired shots towards where he and others were hiding.

He said he ran through a hole in a hedge, adding: "I though he was going to pick us off. I was very frightened."