McConomy case raised as MP calls for truth and justice
The case of Stephen McConomy was raised at Westminster as Colum Eastwood reminded MPs how 26% of children killed during the Troubles died at the hands of British soldiers or police.
As the NI Troubles Bill was debated on Monday the Foyle MP said the focus of proceedings had been far too much on veterans and not victims like Stephen, who was 11 when he was shot at close range with a plastic baton round in 1982.
"Some 26 per cent of the children killed during the troubles were killed by somebody in a uniform.
"People would not really understand that, listening to some of those in this room," he said.
The former SDLP leader spoke of listening to Stephen's brother Emmett speak on British national radio about the family’s campaign for justice.
"Stephen was 11 years old, playing with his friends in front of lots of witnesses on Fahan Street in Derry.
"A British soldier shot him in the back of the head with a plastic bullet. He died a couple of days later,” said the Foyle MP.
He told MPs how the soldier involved was interviewed briefly and let go. Subsequently the McConomy home was raided by the British Army.
"The bishop of Derry at the time, Bishop Daly, said they were in the house longer than the soldier was in the interview suite.
"Was that a split-second decision? Should the soldier who did that not be hauled in front of a court?
"They would have been, if this had happened on the streets of Manchester, Liverpool or Edinburgh,” Mr. Eastwood said.
The Foyle MP said he had concerns about some elements of the bill including disclosure elements.
He spoke of the practice by the British authorities of using public interest immunity (PII) certificates to redact vital documents.
He said he also had concerns with a national security veto, which has been used by the state to suppress information sought by families in the past. “It is a national embarrassment and should not be used again," said Mr. Eastwood.
He suggested, however, that the current bill may be 'the last chance we have' to secure truth and justice for victims.
"The bottom line is this: if we do not pass this legislation, we will not pass any legislation on this issue. It will not happen,” he declared.