KEIR STARMER HAS apologised on behalf of the UK government to the families of five people who were shot dead by two British Army soldiers at two locations in Belfast almost 54 years ago.

Father Noel Fitzpatrick (42), Patrick Butler (38), John Dougal (16), David McCafferty (15) and Margaret Gargan (13) were killed in the Springhill and Westrock areas of Belfast on 9 July 1972.

The shootings became known as the Springhill massacre.

On 30 April, a coroner concluded that the British soldiers “overreacted and lost control”, finding that the five victims were unarmed and posed no risk when they were shot. 

Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, Starmer said the findings of the inquest into the “tragic deaths” of the five victims were “sobering”. 

“While the circumstances in which the events occurred were undoubtedly challenging, it is the duty of the state to hold itself to the highest standard.”

The Labour leader said the British government “accepts and deeply regrets these findings, and recognises their gravity”.

“On behalf of the government, I want to apologise unreservedly to the families for what happened and for the grief and trauma that they have endured since the tragic deaths of their loved ones.”

It comes after the families of the five victims accused Starmer’s government of “deliberate silence” last month following the findings of an inquest. 

“The truth has finally been established in a court of law. Our loved ones were innocent. They were unarmed. They should never have been killed. Yet almost three weeks on, the British Government has chosen to say nothing,” they said in a statement. 

“That silence is not oversight – it is a continuation of the injustice our families have faced for over 50 years. It compounds the hurt and reinforces the sense that our loved ones’ lives do not carry equal weight.”