Northern Ireland

Campaigner referred to attorney general for Ballymurphy soldiers tweet

A tweet attributed to former soldier Alan Barry
A tweet attributed to former soldier Alan Barry A tweet attributed to former soldier Alan Barry

CORONER Mrs Justice Siobhan Keegan has referred a social media comment discouraging former soldiers from giving evidence to the Ballymurphy inquest to the Attorney General.

The inquests are examining the deaths of 10 people killed during shooting incidents involving the British army in the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast in 1971.

At the start of yesterday's hearing, the coroner said it had been brought to her attention that Alan Barry, of campaign group Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans, tweeted a message advising any subpoenaed former soldiers to say they "suffer from a total loss of memory".

Mrs Justice Keegan said she considers it "potential contempt of court", adding the comments are "in conflict with the MoD", who have encouraged former soldiers to come forward and provided legal assistance to them.