On Thursday 30th April a judge at Laganside Court ruled that five people shot dead by the British Army in Springhill/Westrock on July 9, 1972, including three children, a father-of-six, and a priest, were innocent of any wrongdoing.

Mr Justice Scoffield ruled that the victims "posed no risk" and were killed by force used by the Army which was "not reasonable".

I am pleased that the families were at last able to clear the names of their loved ones, even though they always knew they were innocent of any wrongdoing. It has been a long hard struggle, but determination, courage, commitment, and the support of their communities and further afield had kept them going.

There was never any doubt that those innocent victims in Westrock/Springhill were murdered by state forces. Justice for these families has at last taken its first steps, and given the verdict that demonstrable unreasonable, and excessive force by the British Army led to these deaths those who committed these murderous acts must be held to account.

The Justice system and the British Government must now be compelled to send out a clear message, that those who commit or have committed such heinous crimes will face the full force of the law. These families who have struggled to clear the names of their loved ones have suffered for decades; they deserve the right to see the perpetrators brought before the courts to answer for their crimes.

We salute and send our best wishes to the families for their courage, determination, and commitment, and hope that the next steps in their quest for justice will not be as painful, or difficult. Justice must be swift, these families have suffered enough. The state has an obligation to prove that no arm or agent of the state will be shielded from prosecution. No military or paramilitary force should be able to kill on our streets or in our communities with impunity.