New evidence has revealed the British army was aware an innocent Donegal man shot dead by the RUC 50 years ago was fired at three times.
The police had claimed that a single round was accidentally discharged, killing
Michael Leonard (24) of Lettercran, Pettigo, died on May 17, 1973, just inside the Fermanagh border as he attempted to make his way home.
He was killed just 200 metres from the border after a car chase between Belleek and Pettigo.
Newly obtained records, the Irish News reports, reveal that the British army’s director of operations in the north, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Sir Frank King, was made aware within hours that three rounds were fired at Mr Leonard.
At the time police claimed the victim, who was a disqualified driver, had failed to stop when he got into a car after leaving a shop and that a single shot was later fired during a chase.
New evidence uncovered by research charity Paper Trail contradicted the single shot claim after British army logs from the time suggested that a total of three shots were fired at the cattle dealer. Now fresh evidence confirms that the British army at the highest level was made aware that three shots were discharged, including the final shot believed to have claimed the life of Mr Leonard. Earlier this year, the family called for a new inquest into his death.
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