A COUPLE who were parted 45 years ago after Joseph Murphy was shot by the British army in Ballymurphy, will be laid to rest in an emotional joint funeral today.
Mary Murphy died on Monday on the anniversary of her husband's death. The 84-year-old, who battled cancer, had campaigned tirelessly for decades for answers about the circumstances of her husband's death.
Joseph Murphy was shot in the leg by paratroopers during what became known as the ‘Ballymurphy Massacre’ on 9 August 1971, when ten people were killed over three days, including a priest.
While in hospital, he told his wife he been shot twice in the leg, once in the streets of Ballymurphy and again, in the same wound, at the Henry Taggart Memorial Hall which was being used as an army barracks.
He died almost two weeks later from his wounds.
Last year the body of the father-of-12 was exhumed following a lengthy campaign by his family who had disputed conflicting medical evidence at the time of his death.
An examination found a bullet lodged in the remains of the 41-year-old, verifying the family's suspicion about the circumstances of his injuries.
On Wednesday the Murphy family were told that their father's remains were to be returned to them today allowing for a joint burial at Belfast City Cemetery.
The family said their mother's strong religious faith had carried her through the pain of losing her husband and raising their 12-children alone, adding it was of some comfort that they would be finally laid to rest together.
Janet Donnelly, who was eight when her father was killed, said: "My mother wasn't there when my father's body was exhumed, we thought it would too traumatic for her.
"But she had told us she wanted to be there when my father was re-interred, little did we know we'd be burying her with him.
"She'd never let us see her cry, but we would hear her at night when we were in bed sobbing in the next room.
"It was her strong faith helped her through the grief.
"They're with each other now and you can't help but think maybe that's how it was meant to be. It gives us comfort that after all this time they'll finally be together."
While new inquests are to be held into the shootings Mrs Donnelly said the death of her mother just emphasised why there should be no further delays.
"My mother was to be a witness for the inquest. My dad had told her what happened and the longer we wait the more of those witnesses from that time die.
"She had wanted truth but her children are her voice now and the fight for justice will not die with our mother," Mrs Donnelly added.
Representatives of the Ballymurphy families will be present at the funeral which will leave the family's Ballymurphy home for noon Requiem Mass at Corpus Christi Church.
Andree Murphy of Relatives For Justice said the victims' group was "very saddened to hear of the passing" of the mother of 12.
"She was a remarkably strong and tenacious woman who suffered an horrific loss and violation," she said.
"We pass on our deepest condolences to the family who suffer not only the loss of their beloved mother but are grieving her passing without the dignity of truth or justice. It is yet another injustice served to the families affected by the Ballymurphy Massacre."
