18 October 2010
Speaking today PFC caseworker Maggie O’Conor said,
Bernadette Friel was shot and seriously injured by a former British soldier in a house in Carnhill on October 19 1975. A version of events which suggested that she and others were engaged in a form of Russian roulette was accepted by the prosecution service and the courts. Though the RUC originally recommended murder charges the RUC also eventually accepted the Russian roulette explanation despite clear forensic and witness evidence to the contrary. As a result the man who shot Bernadette and who was in possession of an arsenal of weapons, Thomas Ramsay, served only 8 months in prison. A juvenile who was in the house and supported the Russian roulette story was given a conditional discharge for firearms offences.
For many years the Friel family have yearned to see the truth told about the events of that day.
Today we are setting the record straight.
Dr Carson, the Deputy State Pathologist, for Northern Ireland, conducted a post mortem examination on Bernadette Friel, in the mortuary at Altnagelvin Area Hospital on the day she died.
Other than the single gunshot wound Bernadette had sustained no other injuries.
At the conclusion of the post mortem, Dr Carson noted that,
“The brain injury caused by the gunshot wound would have resulted in immediate unconsciousness”. He further stated, “The location of the entrance wound, and the course followed by the bullet within the head, would be in keeping with the shot having been discharged from a slightly higher level, as for example when the girl was sitting on a bed”.
The HET report clearly supports his findings - they conclude that Ramsay deliberately shot Bernadette and fabricated a 'Russian Roulette' story that was widely carried at the time. The HET clearly say that “The position of the wound and the direction of travel of the bullet completely excludes any possibility that Bernadette could have shot herself.”
While the family and the PFC are satisfied that the HET has gone as far as they can in this report there are still clearly questions about why the investigation, charges and sentencing did not lead to justice for Bernadette.
The HET have liaised with the fingerprint department and note that there is no record of any fingerprint evidence being recovered from the weapons or the scene.
Further there was a long delay before either Ramsay or Stanley were tested for firearms residue.
HET has liaised with a Lead Scientist at FSNI, who stated that it was not unusual to obtain a negative result in these types of tests after a lengthy period (the swabs were taken seven hours after the shooting). Information contained within the papers indicates that Hugh Stanley remained in the house while the army carried out the search.
He was then taken from Carnhill to Fort George army camp where at 3.50pm he was handed over into police custody.
He was swabbed for firearms residue at 6.30pm.
Thomas Ramsay was brought from Altnagelvin Hospital where he had accompanied Bernadette in the ambulance. He was taken to Fort George at 12.45pm and handed over into police custody at 4.35pm.
Ramsay was charged with Bernadette's murder and firearms offences. DI Ruddell recommended that both Ramsay and Stanley be charged with murder and senior RUC officers agreed with his recommendation.
However, on the directions of the DPP this was changed to manslaughter and firearms offences. Thomas Ramsay served a one-year term of imprisonment.
Hugh Stanley was given a conditional discharge for firearms offences.
The actions of the prosecution service and the courts constituted a grave disservice to the Friel family and to the victim, Bernadette.
This case again highlights the need to deal with the past and provide answers to families. Those who say we should draw a line in the sand are doing an injustice to families and the wider community.
Today the record has been set straight on the events that led to the death of Bernadette Friel.