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24/06/2005
IRA apologises for schoolgirl murder
The IRA has apologised for killing a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Londonderry more than 30 years ago.
In a statement in the Derry Journal newspaper on Friday, the republican group admitted responsibility for the death of Kathleen Feeney near her Brandywell home in 1973.
At the time of her death, the Provisional IRA blamed the British Army for the killing and claimed later it killed a soldier in retaliation.
Today’s statement read: “The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has been asked by the Feeney family to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of their sister and to publicly acknowledge that she was killed by the IRA.
"The IRA leadership agreed to do so.
“We found, as the Feeney family have always believed, that Kathleen was hit by one of a number of shots fired by an IRA active service unit that had fired upon a British Army foot patrol in the Lecky Road area."
Sinn Fein has so far refused to comment on the statement.
Meanwhile, Irish Justice Minister, Michael McDowell, has claimed that up to 1,500 people are actively involved in the IRA.
Speaking in Ireland's parliament, the Dail, Mr McDowell said that he also believed internal consultations within the Provisional IRA were at an "advanced stage" in response to Gerry Adams’ recent call for the group to "fully embrace and accept" democratic means.
The minister said that the IRA would have to respond with actions which convince all communities that their armed struggle is over and that paramilitarism and criminality is at an end.
(MB/SP)
In a statement in the Derry Journal newspaper on Friday, the republican group admitted responsibility for the death of Kathleen Feeney near her Brandywell home in 1973.
At the time of her death, the Provisional IRA blamed the British Army for the killing and claimed later it killed a soldier in retaliation.
Today’s statement read: “The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has been asked by the Feeney family to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of their sister and to publicly acknowledge that she was killed by the IRA.
"The IRA leadership agreed to do so.
“We found, as the Feeney family have always believed, that Kathleen was hit by one of a number of shots fired by an IRA active service unit that had fired upon a British Army foot patrol in the Lecky Road area."
Sinn Fein has so far refused to comment on the statement.
Meanwhile, Irish Justice Minister, Michael McDowell, has claimed that up to 1,500 people are actively involved in the IRA.
Speaking in Ireland's parliament, the Dail, Mr McDowell said that he also believed internal consultations within the Provisional IRA were at an "advanced stage" in response to Gerry Adams’ recent call for the group to "fully embrace and accept" democratic means.
The minister said that the IRA would have to respond with actions which convince all communities that their armed struggle is over and that paramilitarism and criminality is at an end.
(MB/SP)
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