A new inquest is to be held into the death of a Derry man killed by a rubber bullet in the city over 41 years ago.
Thomas Friel.
Thomas Friel (21) died four days after being hit by the bullet fired at close range by a British soldier in Creggan on 18 May 1973.
The new inquest has been ordered by the Attorney General after new documents uncovered by the Derry-based human rights advocacy and lobbying group, the Pat Finucane Centre.
One of the documents reveals the British Ministry of Defence knew the bullets were more dangerous than had previously been admitted.
The inquest will also examine a new pathology report, commissioned by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), that casts some doubt on the findings of the original inquest.
James Nash, Thomas’s brother-in-law, said the new documents showed the British Government knew how dangerous rubber bullets were and were more concerned with “the cover-up” rather than the people they were killing.
James added the family were “delighted” with the new inquest, adding “it’s about putting the record straight.”
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