A fresh inquest into the death of a man killed after British soldiers opened fire in Derry in 1971 has been ordered by the north’s Attorney General.
The inquest was ordered the day after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said there was not enough evidence to prosecute a soldier over the death.
William McGreanery died in September 1971 when a soldier opened fire from an army observation post overlooking Derry’s Bogside.
The 41-year-old died of his injuries a week after the incident.
A file had been sent to the PPS by the PSNI in 2022, a year after police interviewed a soldier, known as Soldier A, under caution in connection with the death.
The PPS said on Monday it would not be prosecuting the soldier.
The news came on the same day the PPS said it would not be prosecuting another soldier in connection with the death of 14-year-old Derry girl Annette McGavigan, who was shot dead during unrest in the Bogside nine days before Mr McGreanery was injured.
On Monday, the Attorney General, Brenda King, ordered a fresh inquest into the death of Annette McGavigan.
- Families hit out at ‘unbelievable’ decision not to prosecute soldiers over deaths of teenager girl and man shot in Derry in 1971Opens in new window
- Vigil to mark 50th anniversary of Derry man's killingOpens in new window
- File sent to PPS by police investigating 1971 killing of Derry schoolgirl Annette McGaviganOpens in new window
The families of both of the deceased had criticised the PPS decision, but have welcomed the inquests.
Both families have welcomed the fresh inquests, which have been ordered right before the May 1 cut-off date under the UK’s controversial Troubles legacy legislation that will end inquests relating to the conflict.
Mr McGreanery’s nephew Billy told the BBC on Tuesday that the fresh inquest offered the family a “glimmer of hope for the future”.
“We still have the resolve to fight on and get justice for our uncle Billy,” he said.
