The Five Demands

1971 British Army shooting ‘ruthless’ (UTV)
The family of a young man shot dead by the British Army 40 years ago have welcomed the findings of a Historical Enquiries Team report into his death.
Sean Ruddy was killed at Hill Street in Newry on 23 October 1971 alongside his two companions Robert Anderson and Thomas McLaughlin. All three were unarmed.
On Monday, the late Mr Ruddy’s family said they welcomed the findings of the HET that his death “was a tragedy which should not have happened.”
Arthur Ruddy, the victim’s brother, said that on the way home from a public house Sean and his friends had made a “spur of the moment” decision “to snatch some money from two barmen as they made a deposit in the night safe of a bank on Hill St.”
He continued: “As they ran off up the street, soldiers watching from the roof of Woolworths shot them dead.
“We have lived with this knowledge for 40 years now.”
He added: “It is our hope now that this report, which confirms that our brother Sean and his two companions were needlessly and ruthlessly killed, will help us finally to come to terms with this tragedy.
“This report reminds us that a great darkness came upon this town and it suffered years of senseless violence.
“We are glad that today the people of Newry live in better times. May this always be a place of peace.”