The family of a Derry mother of six who was shot dead by a soldier in 1971 welcomes the findings of a forensic autopsy that her murder was “unjustified”.
atleen Thompson, 47, was killed on November 6, 1971, in the backyard of her home in the Creggan area, during an army search of her neighbor’s home.
Summarizing her findings Wednesday, coroner Sandra Crawford found that a soldier known as Soldier D was responsible for her death.
She also denied his allegations that he believed he was under fire at the time and acted in self-defense, calling his evidence “processed and self-serving.”
A statement from Mrs Thompson’s family said the findings were “confirmation” that the investigation system worked.
Fearghal Shiels of Madden & Finucane attorneys said it is in stark contrast to government legislation to deal with the legacy of the problems.
“This is another clear illustration that the forensic autopsy system is capable of reaching the truth for families seeking answers about how their loved ones died,” he said.
“The soldier who is responsible for Mrs Thompson’s death testified over the course of four days.
“He repeatedly claimed that he did not have a clear memory of the only time he had ever lived, fired in anger and killed someone.
“It is only by testing the witness ‘report given immediately after the event, using the independent objective ballistics, pathology and other witness evidence, that a proper assessment of the witness’ credibility can be achieved.”
He added: “Any person who thinks that the real circumstances of how Kathleen Thompson died can be determined by the mechanisms proposed by the current government’s legacy proposals and depends on the cooperation and honesty of those responsible for the death. , live honestly on another planet. ”
The British Government’s legacy plans are intended to focus on restoring the truth about prosecutions or new investigations, but this has been completely rejected by victim groups and political parties in Northern Ireland.
In the forensic autopsy, Mrs Thompson was described as a housewife who was married to Patrick Thompson, a boilermaker and welder.
Her six children at the time were David (18), Pat (16, now deceased), Billy (15), Mary Louise who was known as Minty (11), Patricia (9) and Ernie (7).
The coroner said Mrs Thompson was shot and fatally wounded around midnight on November 6, 1971 in the backyard of her home at 129 Rathlin Drive in Derry.
The cause of death was a bullet wound to the chest from a high-speed shot fired by Soldier D. He and other soldiers withdrew from the area at that time.
“Kathleen Thompson was unarmed and in her yard bumping into a trash can lid or other object to warn neighbors about the presence of soldiers in the area,” she said.
“Soldier D did not have an honest conviction that a gunshot was fired from the garden of 129 Rathlin Drive, and that his life and the lives of others were immediately threatened.
“His action to shoot in a dark garden in a residential area in such conditions was contrary to the guidelines on the deployment of lethal force provided to soldiers in the yellow card.”
She said Soldier D fired two shots in the backyard, in circumstances that were “unjustified”. No proper investigation into the death was found at the time.
The coroner said earlier Soldier D maintained he fired two shots after believing an armed man who was in the yard shot at him and was therefore immediately threatened.
“I can not be satisfied to the required standard that soldier D had an honest conviction that he was under fire,” the coroner said.
“I find that he did not have an honest conviction that there was an armed man and he did not have an honest conviction that he saw the snout flash and heard gunfire.
“I find that he presented a seasoned and self-serving version in which he pretended to remember aspects that supported his position, and to forget aspects that would expose him to challenges and questions regarding his state of mind, judgment and actions when he was in the fire shot.129 Rathlin Dr.
“While I strongly reject his evidence that he had an honest conviction that he was being fired, I take into account his total lack of experience of operations of this nature and of civil unrest.”
Soldier D testified that he was in an elevated condition at that time.
The coroner said she denied being shot, and “in all likelihood he was scared.”
“It was more likely than not, that he overreacted for fear of the noise and activity that was common at the time of his withdrawal by firing shots when there was no objectively perceived credible threat of gunfire.”
She also noted that he fired six more shots and was the only member to fire any shots.
“I am satisfied that when he shot, he could not see Mrs Thompson leaning forward and bumping into a rubbish bin lid or other object.
“Soldier D’s action to shoot in a dark garden in a residential area in such circumstances is clearly contrary to the provisions of the yellow card.”
In closing, Judge Crawford expressed her condolences to the Thompson family.
In a statement, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood called the result a “clear justification” for the family after a long battle for justice.
The Foyle MP, speaking from Westminster, ahead of a debate on the Legacy Bill this afternoon, said the family had been waiting for more than 50 years for this day.
“The truth about what happened to a mother of six in the backyard of her own home has been delayed for more than 50 years by state institutions, but it could never be denied to those who loved Kathleen,” he said.
“They have taken full power from the British government and today they are finally justified.
“Today in the House of Commons, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will make the flawed case for new legislation that would have denied justice to the Thompson family forever. “Brandon Lewis will seek support for an end to succession inquests and investigations, and will pull the plug on other families who are desperate to know what happened to their loved ones.”
He said the verdict also served as “the clearest possible demonstration” that the government’s proposals are “immoral, unjustifiable and will allow those who have committed heinous crimes against people in Ireland to get away with it”.
“Kathleen Thompson’s family should not have been forced to fight for truth for more than half a century. But in the emotion of this day, I hope they feel some pride that they made their mother proud. They definitely made the city of Derry proud. The right response of the government will now be to withdraw their flawed legislation and listen to the voices of victims who will never support it. “