§ Mr. Maginnisasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give details of the shooting of Mr. Kevin Heatley at the Derrybeg Estate, Newry, County Down, on Wednesday 28th February 1973.
§ Mr. BlakerAt about 11.20 p.m. on 27th February a routine Army patrol in the Derrybeg Estate, Newry, was attacked by a group of people throwing bricks, bottles and other missiles. A man was arrested and the patrol withdrew to allow the situation to calm; but when it returned at about 11.50 p.m. the crowd had grown and was more hostile than before.
As the patrol was leaving the area again, the soldier bringing up the rear saw a male person of short stature appear round a corner, and adopt a standing position with his right hand outstretched at waist level. The soldier clearly saw a muzzle flash in the person's hand and he heard a pistol shot, accompanied by the sound of a bullet passing near him.
The soldier returned one shot and he saw the person fall but, because of the crowd, the patrol was unable to see what happened to him after that. Reinforcements were called, who cordoned and searched the area, but nothing was found, and the troops had completely left the area by 02.00 a.m. 28th February. As allegations had already been made that the soldier who had returned fire had been under the influence of alcohol at the time, he was medically examined on returning to base but no evidence was found to support the allegation.
36WI understand that at 12.41 a.m. 28th February Kevin Heatley, aged 13, was admitted to hospital in Newry with a single gunshot wound to the forehead. He was later certified dead. I have received no specific evidence to show how or by whom he was conveyed to hospital.