Patrick Rooney

" data-large-file="https://madden-finucane.com/files/2019/08/patrick-rooney.jpg" class="size-full wp-image-11566" src="https://madden-finucane.com/files/2019/08/patrick-rooney.jpg" alt="" width="474" height="557" /> Patrick Rooney

This morning an agreed settlement of this action, was announced publicly in the High Court.

Patrick Rooney was the first child killed in The Troubles. He was nine years old when he was killed on 15 August 1969 when the RUC entered the Divis Flats complex in three Shorland armoured vehicles and raked the flats with indiscriminate machine gun fire.

Patrick's parents, Neilly and Alice, had recognised the danger outside their home and huddled their six children in a back bedroom in an attempt to keep them safe. The RUC discharged approximately 200 high velocity rounds striking at least 13 properties.

A RUC bullet permeated the wall of the bedroom the Rooney family were sheltering in. Patrick was shot through the head and his killing was witnessed by his entire family. Patrick was the eldest of the six siblings at the time. The family were unable to secure an ambulance or medical assistance and members of the public and his father, Neilly, had to carry young Patrick for some distance in order to reach an ambulance.

In the aftermath, members of the RUC took steps to ensure that there would no adequate or effective investigation into Patrick's killing. Following a lengthy investigation by the Police Ombudsman, the PPS directed no prosecution in 2020.

Mrs Rooney's solicitor, Katie McAllister of Madden & Finucane said today:

"It has taken 56 years for a chief constable to offer an apology for the unlawful death of Patrick Rooney, which occurred in the most violent, indiscriminate and in fact avoidable circumstances.

"Patrick was killed in his own bedroom, the very place that he should have been most safe from danger. The RUC fired 200 rounds of high velocity machine gun fire at no identifiable targets, raking poorly constructed flats indiscriminately. Death or serious injury was the inevitable consequence of the RUC's shocking and abhorrent conduct.

"While a financial settlement does not right the RUC's wrongdoing, we are satisfied that we have been able to secure a significant settlement, the terms of which are confidential, and moreover an apology for Mrs Rooney, who is now 88 years of age."