The Ballymurphy Massacre Families will be thinking of their dead loved ones during the coronation.

Families Giving Coronation a Miss

The Ballymurphy Massacre Families will be paying no attention to the coronation of King Charles III.

The families say they will not be watching the spectacle.

Said the group in a statement: "Instead we will be remembering our loved ones who were brutally murdered by the British Parachute Regiment, the same regiment that Charles is the Colonel-in-Chief of. 

"The paras have been directly involved in over forty murders in the recent conflict in Ireland not to mention mass brutality, torture and waterboarding. When he (Charles) became king he became the Commander-in-Chief of all British Armed Forces who were responsible for almost 400 murders in our recent past. 

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"We listened this week to speeches by Charles on reconciliation and how he is amazed at the good work of people on the ground, a lot of this work is done by victims groups like ourselves. Yet Charles hasn't even tried to reconcile with victims of the regiment that he commands."

The families statement said that if the monarchy was interested in reconciliation "why did they choose 11th May 2021, the day the Ballymurphy Massacre victims were declared entirely innocent, to put their Royal stamp of approval on the Tory Government's Legacy Bill of Shame""

The committee stage of the bills passage through the British parliament is due to conclude on that day.. 

"This bill," said the families, "will put an end to all inquests, investigations, civil cases and prosecutions. How can you call this an act of reconciliation? 

"The  Ballymurphy Massacre Families will wait to hear what King Charles III has to say to victims of state violence when he lands on Irish soil. Sorry would be a good start to reconciliation and right past wrongs."

 

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