The families of the victims of the Ballymurphy massacre have spoken of their deep distress, pain and anger after it emerged that tissue samples and organs were retained after post-mortem examinations without consent.
Ten people, including a mother of eight and a local priest, were killed by the British Army over three days in August 1971 in what has become known as the Ballymurphy Massacre. Another man died of a heart attack during the turmoil. A long-awaited inquest earlier this year found <https://gript.ie/the-ballymurphy-families-fought-for-50-years-for-the-truth-justice-should-now-swiftly-follow/> that all were “entirely innocent” – and that they had been killed by the Parachute Regiment of the British Army.
Now the families of five of those killed say they have been further traumatised by the revelation that organ and tissue samples from their loved ones were retained.
The families are seeking meetings with the Court Service and the State Pathology Department.
Briege Voyle whose mother Joan was shot dead by the soldiers said that she has now discovered that three samples from her mother’s heart were retained.
“We are gutted, we just can’t believe that to spend over 100 days in court (during the inquest) and 50 years later they just found these parts,” she told the Belfast Telegraph. .“This isn’t right, our mummy’s heart, my mummy was shot in the head, there was no reason to take anything of my mummy’s heart. We believed my mummy’s heart was with her fully when she was buried, now we are left with three pieces of her heart, it is not right. I just feel so betrayed. Our hearts were broken then and they are broken now, and we just feel we need answers.”
Eileen McKeown, daughter of Joseph Corr, said they want the tissue samples back to “finally lay our loved ones to rest”.“This can only happen when we get all the answers and disclosure from both these agencies,” she said.“The news has been devastating. Not only have I had nightmares, I am living one when this is brought to our attention.
Solicitor for the families, Pádraig Ó Muirigh said that his office was notified that human tissue samples relating to four of those deceased at Ballymurphy had been retained at post mortem without the consent and knowledge of their next of kin. An organ relating to one the deceased was also retained and later disposed of, again without the knowledge and consent of the next of kin.
Under current legislation the Legacy Inquest Unit are required to inform the next of kin so that a decision can be made with regard to their retention or respectful disposal. It is unclear why there has been a delay in notifying the next of kin of this development.
He said that his clients were not aware of the retention of human tissue samples, and in one case an organ, relating to their loved ones. This development has caused them considerable anger and distress. It has also raised many concerns and questions which remain unanswered.
The families said they were “shocked, stunned, very emotional, devastated, distressed and very angry” and were seeking answers.
https://twitter.com/qnewsdesk/status/1438155310112313344
Meanwhile, the families and the Time for Truth Campaign are launching a National Day of Action across the island of Ireland on Saturday 25th September 2021 against the British Government’s Legacy proposals which would grant amnesty to those involved in events like Ballymurphy.