Fresh inquest to be held into 1975 death of teen Leo Norney in Belfast

A fresh inquest into the death of a teenager in west Belfast in 1975 has been listed for hearing next April.

Leo Norney (17) was shot by the British army in disputed circumstances in Turf Lodge in September 1975.

Soldiers from the Black Watch regiment said he was a gunman who had opened fire on them. However, this account was rejected by people in the area, who said the teenager was an innocent victim of an unprovoked attack.

Soldiers involved in the shooting were later convicted in relation to separate incidents in west Belfast, related to the fabrication of evidence involving the planting of ammunition.

A new inquest has been ordered into the teenager’s death after the original inquest in 1976 returned an open verdict.

The inquest opened in November but was adjourned following issues raised by a late statement received by the Coroner’s Service.

At a preliminary hearing on Thursday, the inquest was listed to be heard from April 25th for four weeks. – PA