12 March 1998 Edition
British soldier opens fire
By Laura Friel
A joint British army/RUC patrol opened fire in the Falls Park area of West Belfast on Tuesday 10 March. Shots were heard by local residents shortly after 9pm. The area was later cordoned off by the RUC.
The incident took place at the junction of Norfolk Road and Norfolk Gardens. A RUC statement claiming that shots had been fired at the patrol before a soldier returned fire was later retracted. The RUC admitted no shots had been fired at the patrol. In a second statement the RUC said a British soldier had fired his weapon after mistakenly believing he had spotted a gunman in the shadows. Local residents reported increased British army activity in the area over a number of days prior to the shooting.
A joint British army/RUC patrol opened fire in the Falls Park area of West Belfast on Tuesday 10 March. Shots were heard by local residents shortly after 9pm. The area was later cordoned off by the RUC.
The incident took place at the junction of Norfolk Road and Norfolk Gardens. A RUC statement claiming that shots had been fired at the patrol before a soldier returned fire was later retracted. The RUC admitted no shots had been fired at the patrol. In a second statement the RUC said a British soldier had fired his weapon after mistakenly believing he had spotted a gunman in the shadows. Local residents reported increased British army activity in the area over a number of days prior to the shooting.