‘Lethal Weapon’ doc pushes for bullet ban

It features a contribution from Emmet McConomy, the brother of 11-year-old Stephen, who died three days after being shot in the head by a British soldier in Fahan Street in April 1982.

“The soldier involved in Stephen’s killing stated at the inquest that there was no innocent bystanders when Stephen was shot. My brother was innocent.

“He was 11 years of age when a grown man in a uniform from the British government decided to end his life and shoot him point blank in the back of the head with a plastic bullet,” he said.

Stephen was one of nine children and 17 civilians killed by plastic bullets during the conflict.

“Stephen was on a life support machine for three days. Our mother had to make the decision under advice from medical staff to switch off Stephen’s life support as his life wasn’t viable,” said his brother.

Paul O’Connor, from the Pat Finucane Centre, has been campaigning for the release of files relating to the deaths of Stephen, and of 15-year-old Paul Whitters, who was killed by a plastic bullet round fired by an RUC officer in April 1981,

“These are weapons that maim, these are weapons that blind, these are weapons that destroy people’s lives and these are weapons that, as we’ve seen here on occasion, actually kill people,” he said.

The film was produced by the Sinn Féin Martin McGuinness Cumann in the Bogside.

A spokesperson said: “In the Derry context we felt it was very important for the Cumann to carry out the project which resulted in this short film and it being shown as part of the Gasyard Féile 2020.

“During the conflict here 17 people were killed by the use of plastic bullets, nine of those children and hundreds were injured. ‘Lethal Weapon - Hiding the Truth’ - highlighted the call for truth, justice and full disclosure on the use of this lethal weapon in the north of Ireland.”