THE family of a young girl shot dead by a British paratrooper 34 years ago are hopeful an investigation into her death will expose the army’s version of events as lies.
And relatives of Majella O’Hare, who was just 12 when she was shot in the back as she walked to confession near her Whitecross home in August 1976, want to meet her killer and hear him say sorry.
The army initially claimed Majella had been hit in crossfire, while the soldier who fired the fatal shot later said he had opened fire on a gunman in a hedge yards from where Majella was shot.
Both claims were vehemently disputed by eyewitnesses and the O’Hare family. The paratrooper was acquitted in court of manslaughter charges and the family never received an apology from the MoD.
But they are confident that the truth will come out when the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) release details of their investigation into the murder in six weeks.
“We have never received an apology or explanation from the MoD, although the HET are investigating the incident,” said Majella’s brother Michael.
“We hope the report, when it comes out, says what we all know; that there was nobody else involved in it and the army’s suggestion that Majella was hit in crossfire is a total fabrication. There was no-one involved only them.”
Mr O’Hare said they are not seeking a prosecution against the soldier who killed Majella but would like him to meet the O’Hare family and apologise for his actions.
“To be honest, any statement of intent from any official body would be good for our family,” added Mr O’Hare.
“But that’s not what we really want. We want the paratrooper that shot Majella to come back and make his peace. We don’t want any prosecutions.
“It’s not going to be witch-hunt because it was a long time ago and I’m sure that, if he’s human at all, he will have had his moments of regret.
“At the end of the day, it would be a consolation to my mum and may be a release for him.”
Meanwhile, the murders of the Reavey brothers are to be the subject of an adjournment debate at Stormont tomorrow (Wednesday).