The Springhill Westrock families have welcomed the decision by Coroner, His Honour Judge Rafferty QC, to list the inquests into the deaths of John Dougal, David McCafferty, Margaret Gargan, Patrick Butler and Fr John Fitzpatrick to commence on the 20th February 2023.
Commenting on today’s hearing Pádraig Ó Muirigh, who represents the Dougal, Butler, McCafferty and Gargan families said:
‘Today’s decision by the Coroner to list the inquest to commence on 20th February 2023 is a significant development for these families. It is now over 50 years since these tragic events and there has never been a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the deaths of their loved ones.
The truth about what happened on the 9th July 1972 has been buried for over 50 years. These brave families have had to use the inquest system to excavate the truth. We have seen as recent as yesterday, with the Stephen Geddis findings how the inquest system can deliver a measure of the truth, even many decades after the events. The disclosure process, the engagement of forensic experts to review the available evidence and the opportunity for family legal representatives to examine witnesses through the inquest process allows the courts to arrive at proper narrative findings.
It is no coincidence that the British Government have sought to end the legacy inquests as they have been shown time and time again that they can work for families.
The Springhill Westrock families call on all those parties to the inquest and any witnesses, civilian or military, to co-operate with the Coroner to ensure there is no further delay in this matter proceeding’.