The family of a west Belfast mother-of-three who was killed by a plastic bullet 40 years ago has called for the "deadly weapon" to be disbanded.
Aine McCabe, who's mother Norah was just 33 when she was shot and killed at Linden Street, off the Falls Road in 1981, was last night among a number of relatives at Féile An Phobail's annual Plastic Bullet Vigil.
Taking place at the site of the former Andersonstown's barracks in west Belfast, the event brought together all those who have lost loved ones to plastic bullets.
Norah McCabe, who was killed as she returned from the shops, died just 15 weeks after she had given birth to her third child.
The RUC had claimed there was rioting in the area at the time following the death of Joe McDonnell.
However, their claims were contradicted as the incident was caught on film by a Canadian film crew.
No one has ever been charged in connection with her death.
During the Troubles 17 people, including children, were killed by plastic bullets fired by the security forces.
Six plastic bullets were fired during serious rioting in west Belfast in April this year.
Aine McCabe said: "We are here this evening as a family as we have been every year for as long as I can remember to call on the Policing Board and our politicians to disband the deadly weapon known as the plastic bullet.
"Every person that is here has been personally touched by grief and loss that these weapons cause.
"Plastic bullets were introduced in 1973 to replace the equally deadly rubber bullet in a failed attempt to reduce deaths.
"They are not used in any other part of the UK as they are deemed too deadly and dangerous".
The 40-year-old added: "My daddy used to push me to the plastic bullet vigil in my pram and then I went on to push my children and this needs to end now. It has to end with this generation. I don't want my children having to push their children up.
"Are they waiting on another death because they are still as deadly as they were in 1981," she said.
