AMNESTY International has called for a full independent investigation into the fatal shooting by a soldier of a young girl in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Majella O’Hare was 12 when she was shot in the back by a member of the Army using a machine gun as she walked to church in August 1976. The Ministry of Defence later apologised for the killing.
Amnesty International UK is supporting Majella’s brother, Michael, in calling for an independent investigation ahead of the 44th anniversary of her death.
Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland campaign manager, said: “This tragic story should be a matter of national shame for the UK. It is utterly appalling that the family have been left without justice for nearly 44 years.
“Majella O’Hare was a young girl of 12 when she was cruelly robbed of her life when she was shot in the back by a soldier with a machine gun.”
A letter has been sent to the Legacy Investigation Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland requesting the Chief Constable ensure a prompt and independent investigation.
Majella was on her way to church with a group of friends in the Armagh village of Whitecross. They walked past an army patrol and, when she was about 20 or 30 yards beyond it, shots were fired from a general-purpose machine gun.
Three shells were found on the ground – two of the bullets had hit Majella in the back. Majella was airlifted to hospital alongside her father and a local nurse but she was confirmed dead on arrival.
An investigation by the Royal Military Police which lacked the necessary independence followed. The soldier claimed he fired in response to an IRA sniper attack and was charged with manslaughter in 1977. The judge in the case acquitted him.
Despite a letter of apology from the Ministry of Defence in 2011, no independent investigation has ever taken place and no-one has been held accountable for Majella’s killing.
Michael O’Hare said: “We live with the pain that we will never know the potential of her life.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here