RELATIVES of a Co Donegal man shot dead by the RUC almost 50 years ago have met with Irish government officials in Dublin.
Michael Leonard (24) was shot after a car chase close to the Fermanagh and Donegal border between Pettigo and Belleek on May 17, 1973.
At the time police claimed that Mr Leonard, who was a disqualified driver, had failed to stop when he got into a car after leaving a shop and that a single shot was later fired during a chase.
However, new evidence uncovered by research charity Paper Trail has contradicted the single shot claim.
British army logs from the time reveal that a total of three shots were fired at the cattle dealer during the incident.
A report about the killing published two years ago also reveals that an entry in a military log falsely claimed that Mr Leonard was a member of the IRA while a second claim made by a senior officer in a report also wrongly suggested that “he was known son of an IRA man (sic)”.
A jury returned a verdict of misadventure while the Irish government later raised the case with British officials.
Members of Mr Leonard's family attended last week's meeting with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials along with his cousin and campaigning Catholic priest Fr Joe McVeigh, researcher Ciarán MacAirt, solicitor Adrian O'Kane and Donegal Fianna Fáil county councillor Michael Naughton.
Fr McVeigh described the meeting with officials as "valuable" adding "we updated the officials on the disgraceful delay in obtaining justice for Michael".
He described Mr Leonard - who was his cousin - as an "unarmed civilian" and said "a new inquest is necessary".
Adrian O'Kane, of Patrick Fahy and Co Solicitors, said in a 2019 letter the Attorney General's office "stated that there was no justification for the shooting of" Mr Leonard.
"The Attorney General referred the matter to the Public Prosecution Service for consideration prior to deciding upon a fresh inquest.
"The Leonard family have waited long enough to obtain justice for Michael, and we do hope that the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) bring pressure to bear upon the authorities in the north. "
A spokesman for the Police Ombudsman said: “We have received a complaint about police actions in relation to the death of Mr Leonard. The complaint has been assessed and will be investigated when resources allow.”
A spokesman for DFA said the "meeting provided an opportunity for the family to update the department on their case and to share concerns they have".
"This meeting forms part of the department’s ongoing engagement with victims’ families and victims’ representatives," he said.
