The Battle of St. Matthew’s was a pivotal moment in our local history and we have much to learn from it still. The 27/28th June is the 50th anniversary of the battle around the parish church in Short Strand. 3 men were shot dead and over two dozen injured. The local area around Ballymacarrett and […]
Battle of St. Matthew’s 50th Anniversary Read More »
Paper Trail published proof from secret British archives that the MRF was guilty of a catalogue of murders and attempted murders of civilians in Belfast 1972. The report followed the failure of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) Legacy Investigation Branch (LIB) to arrest or convict British Army soldiers in the killer gang, the
Police Failure To Investigate MRF Shootings Read More »
Paper-Trailers was first published in 2017. It is particularly poignant today as Paper-Trailers opens with an article by the talented writer, Lyra McKee, who was shot dead by extremists on 18th April 2019. Lyra was a great supporter of Paper Trail and the charity’s work from its inception. She remains a guiding light. We are
Paper-Trailers with Lyra McKee Read More »
Collusion between state forces and paramilitaries can take many forms. Rarely do we see such casual collusion evidenced in inky black and white, though; and, here, it went to the top. Two incidents. The same British Army Regiment. Just over 24 hours apart and a just a few of hundred yards away from each other.
Casual Collusion and a Tale of Two City Estates Read More »
Paper Trail has linked Britain’s Military Reaction Force (MRF) to multiple murders and attempted murders of civilians in Belfast in 1972. Secret British military documents prove that the MRF was indeed guilty of a catalogue of murders and attempted murders of unarmed civilians – including teenagers – in Belfast between May and September 1972. The
Britain’s Military Reaction Force and Operation Everson Read More »
In May 1972, the British Minister of State for Northern Ireland requested a short note on the origins of the Black and Tans and the B Specials. Lord Windlesham requested the historical brief regarding the Black and Tans and B Specials “at a time when the Royal Ulster Constabulary is under strength and there is
Black and Tans: A Historical Brief for a British Minister in 1972 Read More »
Nobody in the Market was certain who killed Joseph Downey. A local witness at the inquest said he had watched Joseph Downey walking up McAuley Street in the Market, Belfast, close to his home and had shouted a warning to him there was shooting in the area. He thought Joseph had been drinking and did
Who Killed Joseph Downey? Read More »
? Listen: Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill discusses the murder of Michael Leonard by the RUC in 1973. Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill was interviewed by Ocean FM (7th October 2019) about the murder of Donegal civilian, Michael Leonard, by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in 1973 and the family’s on-going campaign for truth. This followed the
Listen: Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill on the Murder of Michael Leonard by RUC Read More »
The murder of Donegal civilian, Michael Leonard, by RUC in 1973 is to be raised in the Seanad. An important Commencement Matter regarding the murder of Donegal civilian, Michael Leonard, by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) on 17th May 1973 will be discussed in Seanad Éireann today (2nd October 2019) as the family fight for
Michael Leonard: Murder of Civilian by RUC Debated in Seanad Read More »
Vindication for campaigning families at the EU Committee of Ministers last week. The Deputies of the Committee of Ministers at the European Parliament (link): 1. recalled that this group of cases concerns the effectiveness of investigations into the deaths of the applicants’ next-of-kin in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, either during security force
EU Committee of Ministers Read More »
