The family of Thomas Burns, a Catholic ex serviceman shot dead by the British army on the 13th July 1972 at Glenpark Street, Belfast, have secured the release of a report completed by the HET into his death which was held by the PSNI from 2013.
The death of Thomas Burns was investigated by the HET before it was suspended in 2013. The completed HET Report in draft form was released to the family this week by the Legacy Investigations Branch of the PSNI. The release is deemed unusual as the report involved HET investigations into the military. It was envisaged that all draft HET investigation reports involving the military in Northern Ireland were ear marked for re -investigation by the new Historical Inquiries Unit created under the contentious Stormont House Agreement, the pending legislation which is the subject of current political talks.
The HET Report was requested by the family in order to assist in an application to the Attorney General for a fresh inquest into their father’s death. The contents of the Report will be used by the family’s lawyers to make further submissions to the Attorney General. Information contained in the report confirms that the original inquest was significantly flawed.
The family await the Attorney General’s decision on their request for a fresh inquest, after consideration of further submissions on the contents of the HET Report.
