Teenager's inquest verdict of 'significant importance' in cases of Annette McGavigan and Patrick Duffy

The inquest verdict of a teenager shot dead by the British army 49 years ago is of "significant importance" in the cases of two Derry people who were also shot and killed.

Schoolboy Partick Crawford was 15 when he was shot dead in the grounds of Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, on August 10, 1975.

The inquest verdict into his death was delivered by Coroner Gilpin on Monday at Laganside Courthouse.

Speaking to The Derry News shortly afterwards, Patricia Coyle of Harte Coyle Collins, Solicitors, who was acting for the Crawford family said: "Patrick Crawford's legacy inquest verdict is of significant importance for the families of Patrick Duffy and Annette McGavigan."

Mr Duffy was shot dead by members of an undercover British army unit, just after 9.00pm on November 24, 1978, in 2, Maureen Avenue in the city. He was shot in the back and side 14 times.

Patrick Duffy who was shot dead by members of an undercover British army unit on November 24, 1978.

In February, the coroner examining Mr Duffy's death refused to list his inquest, due to British Ministry of Defence (MOD) delays. At that time, she told Mr Duffy's family she could not list the inquest for hearing to complete before the Legacy Act deadline on May 1, 2024.

Annette McGavigan (14) was killed during unrest in Derry on September 6, 1971. She had been playing with her friends when she was shot dead. 

On Monday, April 29, the North's Attorney General Dame Brenda King granted a fresh inquest into Miss McGavigan’s death. Her decision came just two days before the British Government's Legacy Act deadline - after which all inquests which had not reached their final stages were halted. 

At that time the teenager's family said they would "do everything possible to pursue the inquest direction".

The McGavigan family is also on a Pending Presecution Review of the PPS's decision (April 29, 2024) not to prosecute a former British soldier, known as Soldier B, who was reported in an investigation file in connection with the shooting of Annette McGavigan.

Annette McGavigan's family challenging British Legacy Bill

Annette McGavigan was shot by the British army on September 6, 1971, in Derry

Derry's Patrick Duffy refused inquest by coroner

Coroner tells Patrick Duffy's family she cannot list the inquest for hearing to complete before the Legacy Act deadline of May 1, 2024

Ms Coyle added: "The Coroner today found that Patrick Crawford was, on the balance of probabilities, shot dead by an unidentified member of the British army with a high velocity bullet from the roof of the maternity building inside the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital on August 10, 1975. 

"He also concluded that Patrick was an innocent 15 year old schoolboy who was not involved with paramilitaries or paramilitary activities and posed no threat.

"He added that the British army was in almost complete control of the RVH buildings and grounds at the time and that up to 9 soldiers were in the vicinity at the time of the fatal shooting.

"This Patrick Crawford verdict clearly demonstrates that a public judicial inquest process of investigation, into all evidence regarding shootings by the British army, is the only process which can provide scrupulous, factual resolution of evidence, and correct the public record, especially in the cases of Patrick Duffy and Annette McGavigan," said Ms Coyle

Patrick Crawford's inquest started on March 11, 2022 at Armagh Courthouse and resumed in March 2024 with evidence continuing up to the cut off date under the Legacy Act 2023 of April 30, 2024.

Patrick Crawford 'shot dead by an unidentified member of the British army with a high velocity bullet from the roof of the maternity building inside the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital on August 10, 1975'.

His family always believed that he was shot dead by the British army with a high velocity shot.

The Coroner confirmed today two of these soldiers had provided statements of evidence but were now deceased, and the other seven soldiers, who were part of an eight man foot patrol in the area, had never been identified by the MOD.

He further concluded the original police and Royal Military Police investigations had failed to collate and secure critical evidence, and referred to the prosecution of a civilian, based on an alleged statement of admission, which was stopped by the DPP because of contradictions in the ballistic evidence.

Maggie Crawford, sister of Patrick, on behalf of the Crawford siblings who were in attendance to hear the verdict said welcomed the Coroner's findings.