A coroner will today deliver her findings in relation to the deaths of 10 people who were shot and killed in Ballymurphy, west Belfast almost 50 years ago.
A Catholic priest and a mother-of-eight were among the victims killed over the course of three days between 9-11 August 1971.
The shootings, which the families refer to as “the Ballymurphy Massacre”, happened immediately after the introduction of internment without trial in Northern Ireland.
The families of the nine men and one woman say they were all unarmed civilians shot without provocation by members of the British Army’s parachute regiment.
They were: Joan Connolly, 44, Joseph Corr, 43, Edward Doherty, 31, John Laverty, 20, John McKerr, 49, Fr Hugh Mullan, 38, Joseph Murray, 41, Noel Phillips, 19, Frank Quinn, 19, and Daniel Teggart, 44.
No one has ever been charged or convicted in connection with any of their deaths.
The original inquests in 1972 recorded open verdicts.
However, fresh inquests were approved in 2011 following a lengthy campaign by the Ballymurphy families.
More than 100 days of evidence from over 100 witnesses was heard during the inquests, which began in November 2018.
Among those to give evidence were 60 former British soldiers and 30 civilians.
The inquests concluded in March of last year.
Coroner Mrs Justice Siobhan Keegan will deliver her findings this morning at the International Convention Centre Belfast (ICC), which is being used to support the business of the courts.
It is expected it could take up to two hours to deliver the findings.
Immediate family members will be present at the ICC to hear Mrs Justice Keegan deliver her findings, while other family members and witnesses in the inquest will watch the proceedings remotely.
She cannot find that the killings were unlawful, but it is open to her to conclude that they were unjustified.
If she finds the killings were unjustified, the judge also has the option to refer her findings to the Public Prosecution Service to consider whether to bring charges in relation to the shootings.
The 10 people who died in Ballymurphy in August 1971; (Top L-R) Joe Corr, Daniel Teggart, Edward Doherty, Fr Hugh Mullan and Frank Quinn (Bottom L-R) Joan Connolly, Michael McKerr, Noel Phillips, John Laverty and Joseph Murphy
