'As time goes by the chance of justice is whittled away' -Michael O'Hare

THE brother of a 12 year old girl who was shot dead by a paratrooper within the vicinity of Ballymoyer cemetery 47 years ago has stated that as time goes by the chance of attaining justice for his sibling is “being whittled away”

Majella O’Hare, pictured right from Ballymoyer, was shot dead on the main road leading to Saint Malachy's Chapel, Armagh while she and a group of other young girls were innocently walking to confessions on the 14th of August 1976.

Although the official record maintained by the British Armies third parachute regiment still states that the 12 year old, who was the personification of innocence, was killed as the result of a crossfire incident, with the soldier who shot her claiming that he witnessed an IRA gunman taking up a position through a hedge in a nearby ditch, this is a point that remains heavily contested to this very day by several key eyewitnesses to the horrendous events that transpired to result in Majella losing her young life whilst being cradled in the arms of her grief stricken father Jim.

Now with 47 years having elapsed since he and his family were robbed of their adored sibling, and with no one having been held to account for her killing within this timeframe, Micheal O’Hare, has stated that with each passing year he feels that any hope of acquiring justice for his little sister is being “whittled away.”

“47 years is a long time to be without justice or reconciliation for the shooting of Majella. She was a gorgeous, innocent girl and the O’Hare family have been devastated by what happened to her. As time goes by the chance of any justice is being whittled away, soon their will be nobody to ask the questions.”

Similar to the innumerable other survivors of Northern Ireland’s thirty year long period of sectarian conflict and bloodshed often euphemistically referred to as The Troubles, Michaels lamentations regarding the loss of his adored sibling take place within the context of the British Governments introduction of the controversial legacy bill entitled “Addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland past”.

If passed into legislation the motion would provide a legal amnesty to any and all those who committed some of the most heinous atrocities throughout the conflict. It goes without say that Michael is only one of many individuals who are in outright opposition to the implementation of this motion.

“I am totally against the legislation bill currently being forced through Westminster. It is a shameful betrayal of victims and families.”