A young Catholic who was shot in the back by the British army 40 years ago in Belfast was innocent, it has been revealed.
Billy McKavanagh was just 21 when he was murdered on the streets of South Belfast during one of the city's bloodiest periods. On August 11 1971, two days after the introduction of internment without trial, McKavanagh was confronted by soldiers from the British army and as he tried to run away, he was gunned down.
At the time, the army claimed the young man was a member of the IRA and that he had been carrying a gun. However, a report published by the Historical Enquiries Team, set up to investigate Troubles-related unsolved cases, found that the young man was innocent.
"Billy's death was an absolute tragedy that should not have happened," says the report.
"He was an innocent man who did nothing more than pick up a pair of waders that had been stolen by someone else and then ran away when confronted by the army."
The report also said that Mr. McKavanagh was "not associated with any terrorist organization and was not armed with a weapon when he was shot."
McKavanagh's family, who say they are happy with the findings, are now calling for a formal apology from the British government to put an end to their four decades of pain.
"We are delighted after what has went on, but now we are going forward. We want an apology from the British government," said Billy's twin sister Margaret Duffy.
"Why shouldn't my brother get an apology? Forty years, we've waited so long to hear he was an innocent victim, and I'm really delighted. This should be the final step of it."
South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA, Alex Maskey, echoed the calls for an apology. "For 40 years the British state has stuck to the lie that Billy McKavanagh was an armed IRA volunteer. The HET report today lays this lie bare," Maskey said.
