Setting the Record Straight
Statement of Billy McGreanery and Marjorie Roddy03 June 2010
Speaking to-day, following the release of the Historic Enquiries Team’s report into the killing of their uncle Billy McGreanery, Marjorie Roddy, and Billy McGreanery, his niece and nephew said
"Our Uncle Billy McGreanery was shot dead by a member of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards at the junction of Eastway, Lonemoor Road and Westland Street, Derry, during the early hours of Wednesday, September 15, 1971.
He was survived by his mother, Madge and by his only brother, Dessie, our father. Billy was well known locally as a keen footballer and worked in McLaughlin’s sports shop in Waterloo Street for over 25 years until his untimely death.
Although those with Billy on the night were clear that he was unarmed and innocent, the grief of his loss was made worse by the suspicion cast upon him by the soldier’s allegation that Billy was aiming a rifle. This has been the official record up until now. It must be noted that no-one who was with Billy on that night was ever accused of any wrongdoing.
We decided to engage with the HET as we knew they were carrying out this review and we hoped it would be an opportunity to set the official record straight.
We were shocked and surprised to find out that although Frank Lagan, the Chief Superintendent in Derry at the time, had recommended the soldier be prosecuted for murder and that this recommendation was supported by another Superintendent at RUC Force Headquarters, no charges were proferred. We feel that if the prosecution had been pursued at the time, then perhaps other future innocent civilian fatalities may have been prevented.
We were appalled to find out that Basil Kelly, the Attorney General, at the time said that no soldier could be prosecuted for murder for anything he did in the course of his duty and we do not believe this could have ever been legal or just.
We also now know that the authorities did think about charging the soldier with manslaughter. However, they interpreted the pathologist’s report in a way that corroborated the soldier’s version of events rather than that of the forensic evidence and the statements of many civilian witnesses. It has since been found that the pathologist, Dr Carson’s interpretation was based on findings that were so general as to be meaningless.
The soldier who shot our Uncle Billy was re-interviewed by the HET and he said he was petrified at the time and that after he fired the shot he hoped he had missed. He said he was not proud of what he had done, that he had thought about it often since and he asked for his sorrow and regret to be passed on to our family.
However, his own statements regarding the shooting were contradictory which cause us to doubt his sincerity. Because the case was never fully investigated at the time, for us, there remain many unanswered questions.
Although this was a difficult and painful process at times we believe it was worth doing.
Justice should have been done 39 years ago and it wasn’t. It’s a great pity that the information has come much too late for those who were closest to Billy. There have been far-reaching consequences within our family as a result of his murder, especially with the early death of our heartbroken father.
However, although our Uncle Billy hasn’t got justice his name has been cleared and we welcome the conclusion of the HET report that he was not armed, posed no threat and was an innocent man.
We would also like to point out that some of the details in the Lost Lives inserts relating to Billy are incorrect and need amendment.
Finally, we wish to gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance that we have received from the Pat Finucane Centre over the years and the efforts of the HET on our behalf. We do not think any family should go through this process without this kind of support."