Plastic Bullets

'Comfortable in his Coffin'

Anne Cadwallader for DECLASSIFIED | 21 September 2022

A 10 year-old Belfast boy was killed by a plastic bullet fired by a British soldier in 1975 - one of 17 people who died from this ammunition during The Troubles. A coroner has now slammed the Ministry of Defence for failing to change its Rules of Engagement in time.
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'I want the truth of my da's death' Jennifer Duffy

Freya McClements- Irish Times 29 Aug 2022 | 20 September 2022

No one was brought to justice for the death of Harry Duffy. Now his family fear new legacy legislation means no one ever will.
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‘They tell us to move on, but they won’t let us….’

Statement from Linda Duffy, daughter of Harry Duffy | 22 May 2021

“I have been trying for weeks to write something about the 40th anniversary of my father’s death, but I can’t. My anger is so real that it stops me. May is a hard month for our family. It comes every year and I feel like I’m holding my breath until it’s over. My father Harry Duffy, known as Harry...
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Paul Whitters- 40th Anniversary Reflections

by Helen Whitters, Paul's mum | 27 April 2021

Shared with the permission of Helen Whitters "It has been forty years since I lost my son. Paul, 15, left one evening to visit his girlfriend but was drawn into a small group of boys throwing stones at a bakery – tensions were high in the city as the Hunger Strikes continued. Without warning, a...
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Families of children killed by plastic bullets dissatisfied following meeting with Karen Bradley

Joint statement from PFC & RFJ | 18 July 2019

Yesterday (17.07.19) the families of Paul Whitters and Julie Livingstone met with Secretary of State Karen Bradley to discuss the closure of files relating to their loved ones. In 1981 15 year-old Paul Whitters and 14 year-old Julie Livingstone were killed by the RUC and British army using plastic...
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Family of Stephen McConomy supports call on SoS to release Whitters files

| 15 April 2019

Statement on behalf of the McConomy family. This is an open letter to Karen Bradley (SOS) supporting the call for these files to be open to the families. File named: CJ4/4402 Paul Whitters: killed by a plastic baton round, April 1981 (1981-83); closed for 75 years. Health & Safety, Personal...
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Mother of Paul Whitters calls on SoS Bradley to release files

15 APRIL 2019 | 12 April 2019

Today marks 38 years since 15 year old Paul Whitters was shot in the head by a plastic bullet fired by a RUC officer. Paul's mother, Helen, is calling on the Secretary of State Karen Bradley to release files held in the National Archives concerning Paul's death that have been reclassified to remain...
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Family of Stephen McConomy apply for new inquest

| 25 May 2018

The family of Stephen McConomy have written to the Attorney General requesting he exercise his power under section 14 of the Coroners Act (NI) 1959 to direct a fresh inquest into his death.
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File on death of Paul Whitters closed until 2059

| 30 April 2018

PFC has become aware that a file directly relating to the death of Paul Whitters is held with the National Archives, but is closed until 2059 on the grounds outlined below. There are other files relevant to those that were killed by plastic bullets closed for 84 years, until 2071. This includes the...
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Plastic bullet victim’s family in witness appeal

Derry Journal | 04 April 2017

The family of Derry teenager, Paul Whitters (15), killed by a plastic bullet fired by the RUC more than 35 years ago have issued a new appeal for witnesses.
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