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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent

British soldiers lost control in 1972 Springhill shootings, inquest finds

Five people stand side by side holding pictures of loved ones
Relatives of those killed in the Springhill shootings outside Belfast coroner's court on Thursday. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA

British army soldiers “lost control” and used force that was “not reasonable” in the killing of five civilians in Northern Ireland in 1972, an inquest judge has ruled.

Four of the victims – two teenagers, a father of six and a Catholic priest – posed no risk when they were shot in the Springhill and Westrock areas of west Belfast on 9 July 1972, Mr Justice Scoffield said on Thursday.

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