Ballymurphy inquest: Man shot four times says he was tortured by soldiers

The inquest is examining the deaths of 10 people in Ballymurphy in 1971

An inquest into the deaths of 10 people in west Belfast in 1971 has finally heard the evidence of a man who died before he could testify in person.

The inquest is examining the shootings in Ballymurphy in August that year.

Gerard Russell was shot four times during a gun battle in 1971, but passed away in July of this year. He had cancer.

His statements were read out in court, some given with the help of carers during the last few days of his life.

• Ballymurphy: Who were the victims?

Mr Russell was a merchant seaman who was home on leave and, on 9 August 1971, had spent the day warning neighbours about internment, and watching riots at the Henry Taggart Army base, the inquest heard.

He said that when the shooting began, he took cover with others at the pillars of gates into some waste ground opposite, an area where a Presbyterian Manse had been demolished.

He described seeing others being shot over some time during a battle between soldiers and some IRA gunmen.

Joan Connolly, Noel Phillips, Joseph Murphy and Daniel Teggart were fatally shot there.

Four of the Ballymurphy victims died as a result of shooting in the Manse field

No weapons were found near any of those who died and their families have always insisted they were innocent bystanders.

Others, including a child, were shot and wounded.

Then, Mr Russell said, a ceasefire was called.

'Tortured by soldiers'

He said an armoured vehicle with a Red Cross on the side drove to the field and two soldiers got out through the back doors, and opened fire on him with an SLR and Browning pistol.

Mr Russell was hit four times, in the arm, hips and back.

A fifth bullet grazed his head, he said.

Mr Russell then described being put in the vehicle with the other dead or wounded men, and taken to the Henry Taggart Hall.

His statement added that they were brought down a corridor with soldiers on both sides kicking them as they went.

He said he was then tortured by soldiers who stood on his wounds and hit his face with the butt of a pistol, even putting a rifle barrel into his hip wound.

Eventually, the abuse was stopped by an Army chaplain, a priest, he said, and the survivors were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital for treatment.

Mr Russell was later awarded £500 compensation for his injuries.

Two of his brothers who witnessed shootings have already testified at the inquest.

'Pat on the back' claims refuted

Earlier, a former Parachute Regiment captain rejected evidence given by another soldier at the inquest.

A soldier, referred to as M226, was the battalion adjutant based at the 2 Para headquarters on Springfield Road.

In May, soldier M597 testified that he had shot a petrol bomber and said he was interviewed about it by the battalion adjutant some days later.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment were based at Henry Taggart Army base in west Belfast

Soldier M597 said the officer effectively patted him on the back and went on to say "the only mistake you made was not killing the... ", using a swear word.

M597's evidence also included his claim that in spite of being from a different company he had visited the Henry Taggart Hall after soldiers based there had shot civilians on 9 August 1971.

• Soldiers 'out of control' at Ballymurphy

M226 returned to court on Thursday after making a supplementary statement to the inquest.

In court, he said he refuted M597's claims about the interview about shooting the petrol bomber and gave several reasons.

'Never swore'

He explained he would not have had the role of investigating such a shooting and would not have interviewed M597.

He also said he believes he never met M597.

He pointed out there were two other captains and two other majors in the headquarters, with whom M597 may have confused him.

He also wanted the court to understand he never swore in front of other ranks.

"I would not talk to my dog like that," he told the court.

M226 added that having looked at the transcript of M597's evidence he believed the soldier had acted illegally and should have been disciplined for his actions.

He said if he had interviewed M597 he would have remembered it and would not have endorsed his actions in the shooting.

M226 also told the court he had been forced to make his supplementary statement to the inquest and make his second appearance in court without the benefit of any legal advice or representation.