Northern Ireland

Ballymurphy Massacre inquest: Tears and applause in Corpus Christi Church

 Bobby Clarke was shot during the Ballymurphy Massacre. He became emotional as the verdicts were returned in the inquest into the deaths of 10 innocent people and was comforted by Fr Paddy McCafferty in Corpus Christi Church. Picture by Mal McCann
 Bobby Clarke was shot during the Ballymurphy Massacre. He became emotional as the verdicts were returned in the inquest into the deaths of 10 innocent people and was comforted by Fr Paddy McCafferty in Corpus Christi Church. Picture by Mal McCann  Bobby Clarke was shot during the Ballymurphy Massacre. He became emotional as the verdicts were returned in the inquest into the deaths of 10 innocent people and was comforted by Fr Paddy McCafferty in Corpus Christi Church. Picture by Mal McCann

Families, survivors, supporters and Ballymurphy parishioners gathered in Corpus Christi Church today to hear a coroner deliver her verdict on the shooting dead of 10 innocent people in Ballymurphy in August 1971.

Coroner Siobhan Keegan said the 10 victims "were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question" and attributed nine of the 10 shootings to the British Army and said the use of lethal force by soldiers was not justified.

Read more:

  •  'All the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question' - Ballymurphy Massacre inquest findings
  • 'It is a weight off my shoulders, it's been 50 years of serious hard grief and pain'
 Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann
 Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann  Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann
 Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann
 Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann  Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann
 Ten candles symbolising the 10 people shot dead in Ballymurphy in August 1971. A coroner today ruled that all 10 were innocent victims. Picture by Mal McCann
 Ten candles symbolising the 10 people shot dead in Ballymurphy in August 1971. A coroner today ruled that all 10 were innocent victims. Picture by Mal McCann  Ten candles symbolising the 10 people shot dead in Ballymurphy in August 1971. A coroner today ruled that all 10 were innocent victims. Picture by Mal McCann
 Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann
 Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann  Applause in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, as the coroner rules that "all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoings on the day in question". Picture by Mal McCann
 A woman prays in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast today. Picture by Mal McCann
 A woman prays in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast today. Picture by Mal McCann  A woman prays in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast today. Picture by Mal McCann
 Former Sinn Fein president and former West Belfast MP Gerry Adams in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann
 Former Sinn Fein president and former West Belfast MP Gerry Adams in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann  Former Sinn Fein president and former West Belfast MP Gerry Adams in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann
Former Alliance assembly member Trevor Lunn in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann
Former Alliance assembly member Trevor Lunn in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann Former Alliance assembly member Trevor Lunn in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann
Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann
Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann
Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann
Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor in Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, for the inquest findings. Picture by Mal McCann