Springhill/Westrock Massacre Campaign Page

05/06/2026

As the Springhill families, we welcome this Written Ministerial Statement and the apology and acknowledgment placed on the official record by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, following the historic apology delivered by the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, in the House of Commons after the findings of the Springhill and Westrock inquest.

For more than fifty years, we have lived with the pain, grief and trauma of losing our loved ones, while enduring decades of silence, denial and delay in our search for the truth. On Wednesday 3rd June 2026, the British Government finally acknowledged what we have always known — that Father Noel Fitzpatrick, Patrick Butler, Margaret Gargan, David McCafferty and John Dougal should never have been killed.

Whilst no apology can bring our loved ones back or erase the suffering that our families have carried for generations. But hearing that wrong acknowledged, and our grief and trauma recognised, is deeply significant. We believe that truth, accountability and acknowledgment are essential for reconciliation, and we hope this marks an important step towards healing for everyone affected by the legacy of the Troubles.

Hansard record of the item : 'Northern Ireland: Springhill Inquest Findings' on Wednesday 3 June 2026.

03/06/2026

After 54 long years, the silence into the Springhill/Westrock Massacre has finally been broken. The record has been corrected. Our loved ones were innocent, and today they receive the recognition and dignity that should always have been afforded to them.

Our families welcome Sir Keir Starmer's apology. While it cannot erase the pain or the years of injustice, it is an important step towards truth, acknowledgment, and remembrance.

We will never forget:
Margaret Gargan aged 13
David McCafferty aged 15
John Dougal aged 16
Patrick Butler. Devoted father of 6, aged 38
Fr Noel Fitzpatrick, aged 42
May they rest in eternal peace

03/06/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Springhill Families Welcome Ministerial Apology Following Historic Inquest Findings

The families of those killed in the Springhill/Westrock shootings have welcomed today's ministerial apology from PM Sir Keir Starmer, describing it as a significant and long-overdue acknowledgment of the truth established by the Springhill Inquest.

For 54 years, our families carried not only the pain of losing loved ones but also the burden of challenging false narratives, seeking answers, and pursuing justice through every available avenue. Many family members who began that journey did not live to see this day.

The findings of the Springhill Inquest conclusively established that those who died were innocent victims, that they posed no threat, and that the force used against them was neither reasonable nor justified. These findings vindicate what our families have maintained for more than five decades: that our loved ones should never have been killed.

Today's apology is an important recognition of that truth.

A spokesperson for the families said:

"We welcome this apology and the acknowledgment of the profound wrong that was done to our loved ones and to our families. For more than half a century we have campaigned for truth, accountability and recognition. The findings of the inquest have finally established the facts and cleared the names of those who were unjustly killed."

"This apology cannot undo the loss, the grief, or the decades during which families were forced to fight for the truth. However, it represents an important acknowledgment of the findings of the court and of the suffering endured by generations of families."

"Today we remember Patrick Butler, Father Noel Fitzpatrick, Margaret Gargan, David McCafferty and John Dougal. We also remember our family members who dedicated their lives to this campaign but did not live to witness this moment."

Our families acknowledge the dedication of legal representatives in particular Pádraig O'Muirigh, campaigners, witnesses and supporters who stood with us throughout our 54-year pursuit of justice.

While today's apology marks an important milestone, the legacy of the Springhill/Westrock killings serves as a reminder of the importance of truth, accountability and equal justice for all victims.

The Springhill families hope that the lessons arising from the inquest findings will ensure that such events are never repeated and that future generations understand both the human cost of conflict and the importance of confronting the truth.

ENDS

20/05/2026

Today we stand with immense pride in Harry.

To hear Harry speak with such courage, honesty and strength after carrying this pain for more than fifty years was heartbreaking and powerful in equal measure. No family should have to spend generations fighting to prove the innocence of the people they loved.

Harry’s words carried the grief, love and pain that our families have lived with every single day since our loved ones were taken from us.

The truth has now been recognised. Our loved ones were innocent. They should never have been killed.

Yet still, we are met with silence.

How much longer should our families be expected to wait for simple human decency?

We are proud of Harry. Proud that he continues to speak when silence would be easier. And we will not stop until our loved ones receive the acknowledgment and dignity they deserve.

The families of five people, induding three children, shot dead in ...

17/05/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three Weeks of Silence: UK Government Continues to Ignore Springhill Inquest Findings

Belfast, 17th May 2026 — Families of those killed in the Springhill shootings accuse the British Government of “deliberate silence” and “ongoing injustice” after it has failed to respond to the inquest findings which ruled all five killings were unreasonable and in breach of the yellow card.

The 2026 inquest found that Patrick Butler, Father Noel Fitzpatrick, Margaret Gargan, David McCafferty and John Dougal were unarmed, posed no threat, and were killed through the use of force that was not reasonable in the circumstances.

Despite the clarity of these findings, it has now been almost three weeks without any formal acknowledgment from the British Government, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), or the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Families say this silence is not neutral — it is harmful.

A spokesperson for the families said:
“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.

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

The Government continues to promote its legacy framework as a mechanism for truth, acknowledgment and accountability. That claim rings hollow when clear, judicially established truths are met with silence.

There is a fundamental contradiction at the heart of this. You cannot claim to stand for truth while actively ignoring it. The ongoing failure of the NIO and the Secretary of State to acknowledge these findings exposes a gap between rhetoric and reality — and it is families who are paying the price.
In Ballymurphy and Bloody Sunday, when the truth was established, the Government responded with public apologies. The same standard must apply here. Anything less is unequal treatment and a denial of justice.

We are not asking for special treatment. We are demanding equal recognition, accountability, and respect. The British Government must now break its silence and issue a full and public apology.”

The Springhill/Westrock Massacre families have made clear that acknowledgment is not symbolic — it is a necessary step in formally clearing the names of those killed and recognising the failings identified by the court.

More than fifty three years after the events, and weeks after the truth has been definitively established, families say continued inaction only deepens the injustice.

ENDS

06/05/2026

To everyone who stood with us,

There are no words that can fully capture the depth of our gratitude, but we want to try.

Our journey to uncover the truth about the killings of our loved ones has been long, painful, and often overwhelming. There were days when the weight of it all felt unbearable—when the darkness seemed endless and the path forward uncertain. Yet through it all, you stood beside us.

Your unwavering support became our strength. In our lowest moments, you lifted us. When we felt lost, you guided us. When hope was fading, you reminded us why we could not give up. Because of you, we found the courage to keep going, step by step, even when the road ahead seemed impossible.

This truth we have fought for is not ours alone—it belongs to all of us who refused to stay silent. We could not have reached this point without your belief, your voices, your compassion, and your determination to stand with us in the face of injustice.

You helped turn grief into purpose, and pain into a shared call for truth. For that, we will always be thankful.

Special tribute in particular to everyone at Relatives for Justice, Springhill Community House, Upper Springfield Development Trust, Bloody Sunday Trust, PFC, TFT, Paper Trail, all the legacy campaign groups, SF, SDLP, People Before Profit and most importantly our community.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us, for holding us up, and for never letting us walk this path alone.

04/05/2026

As families of Margaret Gargan, aged 13; David McCafferty, aged 15; John Dougal, aged 16; Paddy Butler, aged 38; and Fr Noel Fitzpatrick, we acknowledge that the inquest into their deaths has now been formally concluded.

This has been a long and difficult process for all of us, and while the verdict brings a degree of finality, it does not lessen the depth of our loss or the absence felt every day.

On Thursday, as the inquest drew to a close, we gathered together with our wider community to mark the end of this process and the delivery of the verdict, which declared our loved ones’ innocence. This moment was deeply significant for our families, affirming what we have always known.

In a simple but meaningful act of remembrance, five doves were released—each one representing our loved ones. As they rose into the sky, we reflected on their lives, the love they shared, and the memories that remain with us always.

We were grateful for the unwavering support of our community, whose compassion and solidarity have carried us through this painful journey. Though the inquest has concluded, our loved ones will never be forgotten. They remain forever in our hearts, and we will continue to remember them with dignity, love, and pride.

01/05/2026

Yesterday, after almost 54 years of pain, silence and perseverance, the truth was finally spoken — and with that verdict, a long-fought question has now been settled.

The inquest into the Springhill/Westrock shootings confirmed that our loved ones:

Margaret Gargan,
David McCafferty
John Dougal
Paddy Butler
Fr Noel Fitzpatrick

— were killed by 1 kings regiment soliders who lost control, firing in breach of the yellow card and unreasonable force was used. Our loved ones were innocent, posed no risk to anyone and they should never have been shot.

For decades, we carried not only our grief, but the weight of doubt, suspicion and false narratives. Our families were left to fight for the truth while the names of those we loved were questioned and misrepresented. Yesterday’s verdict has now settled that truth beyond doubt.

We think of Paddy, Father Fitzpatrick, Margaret, David and John — five lives stolen, five families forever changed. The passage of time has not lessened our loss. It has only strengthened our determination to see the truth recognised.

We thank the witnesses who came forward, the community who stood by us, and our legal teams who never gave up in the pursuit of truth and justice. Without that collective strength, this day may never have come.

This verdict does not bring them back. It does not erase the years of hurt. But it does restore something that should never have been taken — their innocence, their dignity, and their rightful place in history.

We stood together through decades of waiting, and now, with the truth finally established, we stand together in remembrance, in truth, and in quiet resolve.

Now that the truth has been acknowledged and settled, it must be followed by accountability. No other family should have to endure generations of struggle to have the truth of their loss recognised.

Our loved ones were innocent. They were deeply loved. They were taken from us unjustly.

And now, that truth stands.

29/04/2026

Tonight, on the eve of the inquest verdict, we remember.

Almost 54 years have passed, but the loss has never left us.

They are not just names from the past—they were our sister, our brothers, our father, our loved ones.

They were taken, but they are not forgotten.

Tonight, we say their names. 🕊️

Tonight, we remember Margaret Gargan, aged 13.

Margaret was just a child, with her whole life ahead of her. A daughter, full of promise, taken before she had the chance to grow up.

She is still loved. She is still missed.

Tonight, we remember David McCafferty, aged 15.

David was only 15—a boy with his life ahead of him. A son, a brother and a friend, whose absence has been felt every day since.

He is not forgotten.

Tonight, we remember John Dougal, aged 16.

John was just 16. A young life full of potential, taken far too soon.

He remains a much-loved son and brother.

Tonight, we remember Paddy Butler, aged 38.

A father of six, a family man whose loss changed so many lives forever.

He was loved then, and he is loved still.

Tonight, we remember Fr Noel Fitzpatrick.

A priest, a man of faith and compassion, who stood with his community in a time of need.

He is remembered with deep respect.

Tomorrow, we return to court. But tonight, we hold them in our hearts.

Margaret. David. John. Paddy. Fr Noel.

Loved. Missed. Remembered.

For almost 54 years, our families have carried this loss and sought the truth.

Whatever tomorrow brings, that will never change. 🕊️

29/04/2026

Please take a moment to light a candle on tonight
Share this image with your candle across social media and help us spread the message.

The Springhill/Westrock Massacre families thank you for your continued support in our campaign for truth. Your support matters.

Stand with us. Light the way. Remember our loved ones.

The truth can no longer remain in darkness as we prepare to go to court tomorrow for the Springhill Inquest findings.