New inquest into Derry woman shot by Army

A new inquest has been ordered into the death of a Londonderry woman shot by the Army more than 40 years ago.

It is expected the soldier who fired the fatal shot at Kathleen Thompson, 47, will be compelled to attend.

The mother of six was shot dead in the garden of her Creggan home in 1971 during an Army raid on the estate. She was found by her 12-year-old daughter.

The soldier who killed her has recently been interviewed by the Historical Inquiries Team.

After studying its report, the attorney general has now ordered a fresh inquest.

He said the original investigation was not thorough and the evidence from the soldier will form a key part of the new inquest.

Kathleen's daughter Minty Thompson said: "My mother went out to let other people know that the British Army were coming in to raid and that's what was done in those circumstances in those days.

"The next stage then was that the neighbours brought her in to the kitchen and announced that she was dead.

"'Soldier D' fired the fatal shot, but we didn't know too much about him.

"I think it's going to be very, very difficult for the family and the fact that we will come face to face with soldier D. The other thing is that we'd hope through this inquest that the names of the other soldiers will be there as well.

"We hope that justice will prevail through this inquest. Everybody in Derry knows that my mother was killed by the British Army."