The Five Demands

Un’inchiesta dell’HET insinua la responsabilità del British Army nell’omicidio avvenuto 34 anni fa

E’ attesa tra 4/6 settimane la pubblicazione dell’inchiesta dell’Historical Enquiries Team sull’omicidio di Majella O’Hare, morta dodicenne con un colpo alla schiena sparato da un soldato in pattuglia mentre la ragazzina si stava recando nella chiesa di Ballymoyer, per confessarsi.
Il British Army si è discolpato sostenendo che Majella fosse stata vittima di un fuoco incrociato tra un soldato e un terrorista appostato dietro ad una siepe.
Assolto dall’accusa di omicidio colposo Private Michael Williams. I testimoni, esclusivamente militari, erano stati interrogati solo dalla polizia militare, la loro testimonianza non è stata valutata con fermezza o con possibilità di contestazione.
Ad annunciare l’esito dell’indagine è stato David Cox, a capo dell’HET, che ha incontrato la famiglia della vittima nella mattinata di giovedì.
“Questo rapporto è di grande importanza per la famiglia. E una volta per tutte, spiega e chiarisce che non vi era alcun uomo armato coinvolto nella morte di Majella e che non c’è stato fuoco incrociato”.
“La trama confusa dal British Army, è oggi ancor più confusa”.
Sebbene con 34 anni di ritardo, l’esercito britannico è in obbligo di scusarsi con i familiari di Majella. Il Ministero della Difesa si riserva di rilasciare commenti solo a seguito della presa visione della documentazione redatta dall’HET.

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HET chief calls for army apology (U TV)
The director of the Historical Enquiries Team has called for the army to apologise after a new report cast serious doubt on their account of the killing of a 12-year-old South Armagh girl in August 1976.
Majella O’Hare was shot in the back by a soldier on patrol as she walked to confession at a church near her home in Ballymoyer.
Private Michael Williams, who stood trial for her manslaughter, was acquitted.
The army claimed the girl was killed in a crossfire incident, when a terrorist opened fire from nearby hedges.
But a new HET report, which will be published in four to six weeks, has found there was no gunman.
David Cox, the director of the HET, who met with Majella’s family on Thursday morning to brief them on the report’s findings, has told UTV the army should say sorry 34 years after the killing.
“It’s well overdue. Whatever the circumstances this family is due an apology.”
Majella’s brother, Michael O’Hare, has welcomed the HET findings.
“This report is of great importance to the family. It once and for all explains and clarifies that there was no gunman involved in the death of Majella and that there was no crossfire”, he told UTV.
“And that the army’s confusing storyline is even more confusing today.”
The new HET report supports the findings of an original RUC investigation, which recommended to Prosecutors that Private Williams be charged with manslaughter.
The HET report also points out that, because military witnesses were only interviewed by the military police, their evidence was not robustly assessed or challenged.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said it was not in a position to comment until it received full details of the investigation.
Majella was the youngest of five children.