Ballymurphy Families Walk Out Of Talks With Brokenshire

The families of 10 people killed by soldiers in Ballymurphy in 1971 have walked out of a meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State.

Relatives from the Ballymurphy Massacre Campaign were calling for funds to be released for legacy inquests into the shootings.

Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann said the families have been "let down by the British Government".

She said: "The British Government has failed to uphold commitments made in the Stormont House Agreement on how to deal with the legacy of the conflict.

"This is the fourth British Secretary of State the families have met and their inaction has only added to the hurt of the families over four decades. 

"The Ballymurphy families and indeed all families deserve to have full disclosure of truth in relation to the death of their loved ones.

"I and my colleagues will continue to challenge the British government on behalf of the Ballymurphy families, all families and victims." 

SDLP West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood said : "The Secretary of State has been meeting with victims and survivors. One of the outcomes should be that the London Government changes for the better its approach to legacy issues. The Ballymurphy families heard that despite meeting victims and survivors, the London Government and the Secretary of State have yet to demonstrate change in their thinking. They gave the families no hope that inquest funds – which the Lord Chief Justice has asked for time and time again – will be released now.

"It is also of concern that the Secretary of State is giving one party – in this case the DUP – a veto on a legacy issue. Victims and Survivors, their grief and their needs should not be subject to a shallow veto. If the DUP can veto funding for inquests, they or others could try to do so again and attempt to veto other proposals to achieve truth, justice and accountability. Where would we be then?"

(CD/JP)