The British ministry of defence has expressed its “deep regret” over the killing by the British army 40 years ago of a Catholic man in the Markets area of Belfast.
The apology came after the Historical Enquiries Team reported in August that Billy McKavanagh (21) was innocent, unarmed, had no paramilitary connections, no criminal convictions and posed no threat when he was shot dead in August 1971.
The team, which investigates past killings of the Troubles, also found that Mr McKavanagh’s brother Pat and his cousin Teddy Rooney were badly beaten by a British army unit after the shooting.
The shooting happened during a time of serious conflict in Northern Ireland after the introduction of internment.