Gerry Adams has unveiled a mural supporting the families involved in the Ballymurphy Massacre Campaign.  Article from Sinn Féin:

Sinn Féin west Belfast MP Gerry Adams today unveiled a mural in Beechmount Avenue in support of the campaign by the families of 11 people killed by the British Army in August 1971.

Speaking today Mr. Adams said:

“I want to commend the work of the families and their determination and courage in continuing to pursue this campaign over many difficult years.

The families have been engaged in a whole series of initiatives to raise public consciousness about those events.

The families of the 11 people killed by the British Army’s Parachute Regiment in the Ballymurphy area, in the three days following the introduction of internment in August 1971, want an independent international investigation into the deaths of their loved ones and an apology from the British government. The families want the truth.

We have met as a group with the British Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and we are seeking a meeting with the British Prime Minister.

We won’t take no for an answer. We think it’s important that the British establishment face up to what was done in its name in a little housing estate here almost 40 years ago.

All of these families deserve the full support and encouragement of the community, and of the Irish government, in their efforts to secure an independent international investigation in these deaths; and to have the British government acknowledge the truth surrounding the shooting dead of their loved ones.” CRÍOCH

Please sign the online petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking him to initiate an independent investigation into the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971.  The same British Army Parachute Regiment responsible for the killings at Ballymurphy went on to kill 14 unarmed civilians on what has come to be known as Bloody Sunday in Derry just 5 months later. Photo of the unveiling of the Ballymurphy mural courtesy of Relatives for Justice.

The text of the petition is as follows:

To:  British Prime Minister

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to initiate a fully independent and human rights compliant investigation into the 11 killings of civilians in Ballymurphy, Belfast between 9th and 11th August 1971 by the Parachute Regiment.

On 9th August 1971 the British Government introduced internment without trial in the North of Ireland. Between the 9th and the 11th August the British Army's Parachute Regiment killed eleven civilians in the mainly nationalist Ballymurphy housing estate. The deaths included a Catholic priest and a mother of eight. In all 53 children were left without a parent as a result of these killings.

The killings were not investigated independently or appropriately and the Northern Ireland Office immediately disseminated disinformation alleging that all of those killed were involved in paramilitary activity. The cover up and lies added intensely to the deep hurt caused by these deaths. The ensuing suffering of the families has been indeed egregious. 38 years later it is now time for the British Government to act to put in place a human rights compliant, fully independent investigation so that the truth of what occured is firmly established and to make possible official actions of reparation and apology to the families.

This will contribute positively to the processes of transition and healing in the North of Ireland and to the current debate on dealing with our collective past.