A second bullet, in his leg, killed him. âHe wasnât any threat to anyone. He was on the ground.â
Their mother had spent the previous night comforting the mother of another of the victims, Noel Philips (19), who lived across the street. âMrs Philips was broken-hearted, and my poor wee mummy didnât realise that she was going to be exactly the same way within 24 hours,â says Rita.
âThe Ballymurphy community went through hell on earth. Thereâs not a family hasnât got a story to tell, or hasnât been affected in some shape or form.
Most, if not all, of the victims are believed to have been shot by the elite Parachute Regiment. âThey were sent in to shock and stun a community,â says Rita, âto put them in their place, and when they left they left 11 families devastated, they left a community that was broken but resilient.â