Soldier 'more than likely' shot dead schoolboy, coroner finds

Patrick Crawford was shot dead while walking through the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital in 1975

An unidentified British Army soldier was responsible "more likely than not" for the fatal shooting of a schoolboy in the grounds of a Belfast hospital almost 50 years ago, a coroner has found.

Patrick Crawford, 15, was shot dead while walking through the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital at about 21:40 BST on 10 August 1975.

Delivering his findings in the legacy inquest at Belfast's Laganside Courthouse, Judge Philip Gilpin said the teenager died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

It is the first legacy inquest outcome since the controversial Legacy Act came into effect in May.

The coroner's findings were delivered at Laganside Courts on Monday

In 2015, Northern Ireland's former attorney general John Larkin granted a fresh inquest into Patrick's death after representations from his family over the Troubles killing.

On Monday, the judge rejected theories the teenager had been killed as part of an IRA feud, stating he "was an innocent 15-year-old boy not involved in any suspect activity at the time he was shot".

He also said he would take written submissions on whether he should remove anonymity orders on two deceased soldiers which were granted during the inquest proceedings.

Judge Gilpin said: "The cumulative effect of the facts as found by me, and the various strands of evidence when brought together, satisfy me on the balance of probabilities, to a sufficient degree of cogency, that it is more likely than not that Patrick was shot by an unidentified British Army soldier in circumstances where they could not have had a reasonable belief of a threat of force."

He added: "He was posing no threat at the time he was shot."

The identity of the soldier who fired the fatal shot is unknown.

'We were only kids'

Patrick's younger sister and brother, Maggie and John Crawford, said they were "delighted with the outcome"

Speaking outside the court, Patrick's younger sister and brother, Maggie and John Crawford, said they we "delighted with the outcome".

"It's been hanging over us for years, Patrick has been portrayed as a terrorist – he was only a wee lad, he was 15," Ms Crawford said.

"My father, god rest him, fought tooth and nail to get this and he didn't get to see the verdict but the family is all happy with what we found out today."

"Three years before this our mother was shot dead in a crossfire. We lived in number 13 and were unlucky, but Patrick was innocent, my mummy was innocent," Mr Crawford said.

Maggie was nine years old and John was 11 when Patrick was killed.

"We were only kids," they both said.

"It was a big, big loss to us when Patrick went – a big loss," Mr Crawford added.

The family were represented by solicitor Patricia Coyle who said it was "a very important verdict" for both her clients and other families "who are fighting for resolution" in legacy cases.

"The Court of Appeal has already indicated how important the inquest and coronial system is here in Northern Ireland for these families," Ms Coyle said.

"Today is an absolute demonstration of that importance and the uncovering of information and conclusions which lead to justice and progress and healing for the families."