British soldiers lost control in 1972 Springhill shootings, inquest finds

Coroner says none of the five civilians killed in incident in Belfast during Troubles should have been shot

British army soldiers “lost control” and used force that was “not reasonable” in the killing of five civilians in Northern Ireland in 1972, an inquest judge has ruled.

Four of the victims – two teenagers, a father of six and a Catholic priest – posed no risk when they were shot in the Springhill and Westrock areas of west Belfast on 9 July 1972, Mr Justice Scoffield said on Thursday.