‘Glimmer of hope’ for McGreanery family as Attorney General orders fresh inquest

A fresh inquest has been ordered into the killing of Billy McGreanery in Derry more than 50 years ago.

Northern Ireland’s Attorney General Brenda King ordered the new inquest on Tuesday, hours before new legacy laws come into effect.

Mr McGreanery, aged 41, was shot dead by a member of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards – referred to as soldier A – at the junction of Eastway, Lonemoor Road and Westland Street, on the evening of September 14, 1971.

He underwent surgery at Altnagelvin hospital and died around four hours later during the early hours of Wednesday, September 15.

The Historical Enquiries Team of detectives said Mr McGreanery was not carrying a firearm and posed no threat when he was targeted.

In 2011, Sir Peter Wall, then chief of the Army’s general staff, apologised to his family.

The then minister for the Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan also offered an apology in the House of Commons.

In 2013, KRW Law wrote to the Attorney General seeking a new inquest and in 2017 the case was referred to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

The PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Bureau reviewed the case before a full investigation.

Ultimately, the PPS determined on Monday that the soldier would not be prosecuted in relation with the killing.

Following that decision, the family’s solicitor Gary Duffy from KRW Law wrote to the Attorney General asking that the inquest now be ordered.

The AG’s office said Ms King is “mindful” that a fresh inquest is likely to be faced with difficulties including the availability of witnesses, the fact that Soldier B has died and the potential impact on the inquest’s ability to find facts if a witness asserts the privilege against self-incrimination.

A statement said: “While these matters clearly sound on the utility of a further inquest the Attorney nonetheless considers that it is advisable to order a new inquest in this case.”

Mr McGreanery’s nephew, also named Billy McGreanery, said the family was “uplifted” by the news of the inquest.

He said: “This gives us a glimmer of hope for the future.

“We still have the resolve to fight on and get justice for our uncle Billy, despite the major setback yesterday.

“We welcome the acknowledgement by the Attorney General that there are still questions that need to be addressed, and we hope that an inquest does take place at some stage to give us these answers.”

Mr Duffy said: “Yesterday’s PPS refusal to prosecute anyone in connection with the killing of Billy McGreanery was gut-wrenching for the family.

“However, their distress has been alleviated to an extent in light of the Attorney General’s decision that a new inquest would be advisable.

“The announcement couldn’t be any timelier, coming as it does less than 24 hours after the PPS decision, and indeed less than 24 hours before the Legacy Act cut-off date.

“Yet again this case presents as an example of how the current legacy processes can and do work in certain instances for families. The Legacy Act serves to dismantle all of the existing legal mechanisms and puts us into a conflict-resolution dark era.”

Sara Duddy from the Pat Finucane Centre welcomed the news, adding: “We now are appealing to the Labour Party, should they win the next election, to make good on their promise to repeal the shameful Legacy Act so that this inquest can go forward.

“We are also awaiting the outcome of the Legacy Act legal challenge that is due to be considered by the Court of Appeal in June. Families like the McGreanerys are resilient and will continue to fight for truth and justice for their loved ones.”