Family of teen victim of British Army in Derry hopeful of answers from ICRIR engagement

Seamus McKinney, Derry Correspondent, Irish News, July 31st, 2024

ONE of the first bereaved families to engage with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) say they are hopeful they can receive answers.

Danny Bradley from Derry is to meet the ICRIR next month to talk about the British army killing of his brother Seamus (19) during Operation Motorman on July 31 1972. The family are among the first to speak publicly about engaging with the commission.

A member of the IRA, the Derry teenager bled to death after he was shot when troops moved into the Creggan as part of the operation to dismantle ‘no-go’ areas across Northern Ireland.

The ICRIR was established through the Tory government’s Legacy Act. The Labour government has said it will repeal the legislation which was opposed by victims’ groups and all political parties in Northern Ireland as well as the Irish government.

However, on Monday (July 29th), Secretary of State Hilary Benn said he intends to retain the ICRIR element (of the Act) as it was compliant with human rights law, despite continuing opposition to the commission from some victims’ families.

The commission has refused to say how many bereaved families have engaged with it so far. A spokesman said an update would be provided in September.

As he prepared to mark the 52nd anniversary of his brother’s death, Mr Bradley said he decided to engage with the ICRIR because he believed the process would offer answers. His brother was one of two people shot dead by the British army in Derry that morning. The other was Daniel Hegarty (15). Inquests declared both killings unjustified.

“I want to look them in the eye and ask them questions about Seamus’s death

The IRA murder of nine civilians in Claudy in a three-car bomb attack later the same day was the Provisonals’ response to Motorman.

Mr Bradley said: “My view of things is that if the soldiers who killed Seamus don’t come up with information, they will be prosecuted.

“I want to look them in the eye and ask them questions about Seamus’s death. I want to know what my brother’s last words were and I want to know why there are differences in the official record between the time he was shot and the time his body was brought to the morgue; I want to know why he was interrogated rather than taken straight to hospital.”