Inquests & Legacy Litigation

Ó Muirigh Solicitors is widely regarded as a leading firm in inquests and legacy litigation in Ireland. We represent hundreds of families seeking truth, accountability, and justice for the deaths of their loved ones, particularly in cases involving state agencies, security forces, and collusion during the conflict.

Our firm has developed a significant legacy inquest practice in this jurisdiction and has built a niche expertise in applications to the Attorney-General to re-open inquests under Section 14 of the Coroners Act (NI) 1959.

We recognize that for many bereaved families, the primary objective is to uncover as much information as possible about the circumstances of their loved one’s death. Where the state or its agents were responsible, we ensure that the legal process is transparent, compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and leads to real accountability.

Our Expertise in Inquests & Legacy Cases

We provide legal advice, assistance, and representation in the following areas:

  • Legacy Investigations
    Representing families in Police Ombudsman & PSNI Legacy Investigation Branch (LIB) inquiries into state involvement in killings.
  • Fresh Inquest Applications
    Preparing applications to the Attorney-General to direct a new inquest into historical deaths.
  • Inquests Before the Coroner’s Court
    Advocating for families in legacy inquests to establish the full facts surrounding a death.
  • Civil Actions Against the State
    Bringing legal proceedings against the PSNI and Ministry of Defence (MoD) for collusion and human rights violations.
  • Accountability for State Agents
    Ensuring that individual officers and officials responsible for unlawful deaths are held to account.
  • Engagement with International Human Rights Bodies
    Pursuing justice at the European Court of Human Rights and other legal forums.

From the outset, we liaise with relevant state agencies to obtain critical documentation. We work closely with independent pathologists, forensic experts, and witnesses to ensure that all evidence is properly examined.

Notable Legacy Inquests & Landmark Cases

Ballymurphy Massacre Inquest

  • One of the most significant inquests in Irish legal history.
  • Ó Muirigh Solicitors successfully represented the families of ten innocent civilians killed by the British Army in August 1971.
  • A Coroner ruled in May 2021 that all those killed were ‘entirely innocent’ and that the use of lethal force was ‘unjustified’.
  • The British Army originally claimed that the victims were gunmen or members of the IRA, but the inquest exposed these claims as false and misleading.
  • The case highlighted serious investigative failings, including:
    • Flawed military investigations that failed to hold soldiers accountable.
    • Lack of forensic evidence collection at the scene of the killings.
    • Failure to interview key witnesses at the time of the incident.
  • The inquest findings provided long-overdue truth and vindication for the families of the victims.
  • (Ballymurphy Inquest Findings)

Springhill Massacre Inquest

  • Fresh inquests secured for five civilians killed by the British Army in July 1972 in the Springhill/Westrock area of West Belfast.
  • The victims included:
    • Margaret Gargan (14 years old) – Shot while standing outside her home.
    • John Dougal (16 years old) – Killed while assisting an injured man.
    • Patrick Butler (39 years old) – A father of six, shot while trying to help others.
    • David McCafferty (15 years old) – Killed while going to assist the wounded.
    • Fr. Noel Fitzpatrick – A Catholic priest shot dead while administering last rites.
  • The British Army claimed they were engaged in a gun battle, but witness testimony contradicted this version of events.
  • Families argue that the killings were unjustified and that the original inquests were flawed and failed to properly investigate the circumstances.
  • (Springhill Inquest)
Other Major Legacy Cases

Kelly’s Bar Bombing (1972)

  • A loyalist UVF car bomb exploded outside Kelly’s Bar in West Belfast.
  • British Army gunmen opened fire on survivors immediately after the bombing.
  • The state initially blamed the IRA, falsely claiming it was a "bombing accident."
  • A fresh inquest was directed following an application by our office.

Francis Rowntree (1972) – Rubber Bullet Death

  • 11-year-old Francis Rowntree was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by a British soldier in Belfast.
  • A forensic re-examination contradicted the army’s version of events and revealed that the shot was direct and deliberate.
  • The Coroner ruled that lethal force was unjustified and that the state failed to regulate the use of baton rounds.

Barney Watt (1971) – British Army Shooting

  • Shot and killed by British soldiers after leaving a Belfast social club.
  • A fresh inquest overturned the original verdict, ruling that the use of force was not justified.
  • Our firm secured a landmark High Court civil settlement of £100,000 against the Ministry of Defence and the PSNI.
  • (Belfast Telegraph)

Operation Stafford – UVF Collusion Cases

  • Representing 13 families in an ongoing PSNI & Police Ombudsman investigation into collusion between the RUC Special Branch and the Mount Vernon UVF.
  • Former Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s report (2007) confirmed systemic failures, including:
    • Failure to arrest informants involved in killings.
    • Deliberate destruction of forensic evidence.
    • Suppression of intelligence implicating state agents.
  • Our office secured independent oversight of the investigation, led by Nuala O’Loan and human rights barrister Richard Harvey.
Other Major Legacy Cases

Stephen Geddis Inquest

    • Stephen Geddis, a 10-year-old boy, died on 30 August 1975 from a head injury sustained on the evening of 28 August 1975 in the Divis area of Belfast.
    • A fresh inquest was directed in 2014 by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
    • On 6th September 2022, the Coroner, His Honour Judge McGurgan, delivered his findings and found that Stephen posed no threat to the soldiers when the baton round that struck him was fired and that the discharge of the baton round by soldier SGM15 was not justified or justifiable on the evidence presented. The Coroner found that the baton round was fired by SGM15; the baton round was probably aimed at the ground; and that SGM15 was unjustified in discharging the baton round as the force used was more than absolutely necessary when it was discharged.
    • Link to Summary of Findings: Summary of findings - Coroner finds discharge of baton round was not justified in death of Stephen Geddis.pdf
    • Link to Judgement: In the matter of an inquest into the death of Master Stephen Geddis.pdf

    Loughrey & Newton Collusion Claims

    Marian Brown – Inquest

    • Marian Brown, 17 years old, was killed on 10 June 1972 in Belfast by gunfire from the British Army, at the western side of the junction of Roden Street and Grosvenor Road, Belfast
    • The Inquest found that Neither Marian Brown or anyone at her locality was acting in a manner that could reasonably or honestly have been perceived as posing a threat of death or injury to any civilian on Roden Street or to the soldiers positioned in the vicinity of the junction of Clifford
    • The Inquest found that the force used by that soldier by firing in the direction of Marian Brown was not justified; the investigation into the death of Marian Brown was inadequate; and the military operation was not planned, controlled or regulated in order to minimise to the greatest extent possible the risk to life
    • Summary of Coroners findings - Inquest into the death of Marian Brown.pdf
Why Choose Ó Muirigh Solicitors?
  • Leaders in Inquests & Legacy Litigation
    leading firm in inquests and legacy litigation.
  • Success in Landmark Cases
    Securing fresh inquests, civil settlements, and accountability for state actions.
  • Expert Legal & Forensic Investigations
    Working with pathologists, ballistic experts, and witnesses to uncover the truth.
  • Pursuing Justice Internationally
    Engaging with human rights bodies and the European Court of Human Rights when necessary.

Need Legal Advice?

We offer free initial consultations and can advise on Legal Aid eligibility

Contact Us Today

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info@omuirighsolicitors.com | 028 9023 0222
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