Billy McGreanery: 'Our uncle became our second daddy... the devastating impact of Billy’s death cannot be overstated'

His nephew and niece, Billy McGreanery and Marjorie Roddy, described how after their mother’s death aged just 30, their uncle Billy – their father Desmond’s only sibling – became like a second father to them.

"Billy was three years younger than Desmond, but they both were very protective of each other, and relied on each other.

“When our mother Mary died of leukaemia in 1960, at the age of just 30, it was Billy who stepped in and became our second daddy. We were very young when this happened, Marjorie was just 6 years old, Rosie was 4 years old, and Billy was just a year and four months old.

“Billy was more comfortable playing football with young Billy, and taking us on days out, than anywhere else. As our father worked such long hours, often not getting home until midnight, Billy would be there for us. He never came to our house empty handed and would bring us sweets every time he came up to the house, the dear type of sweets that no one could afford.

“Billy was a manager in McLaughlin’s Sport’s Shop. Everyone knew him and he was very well respected. He would sort the boots for the Derry City football team and lace the footballs. We remember him receiving a very fancy Omega watch as a present from John McLaughlin, the store owner, after he had worked for the company for 25 years. Young Billy still has this watch that Billy had been wearing when he was shot.”

The family believe Billy’s killing was carried out in retaliation for two soldiers who had been shot earlier that day.

"One had died and the other survived. We know the area was very quiet that night, with no trouble at all,” they said.

The soldier, who is subsequently referred to in the records as ‘soldier A’, fired a single aimed shot and then claimed Billy was a gunman.

“The soldier in the post alongside the shooter said he didn't see a gun and said he had asked shooter why no warning was shouted to which soldier A replied he would not have heard. He just took his life,” his nephew and niece said.

Describing the impact Billy’s death had, they continued: “This action had a very hard-hitting effect on all of the family but mostly on our father. Our granny Madge was shattered. The fact that they attacked his good name, his reputation, by publicly claiming he was a gunman was like they had killed him twice. They took his life and then they destroyed his name.

“Both our daddy and grandmother tried their best to clear Billy's name and get justice. When this failed my father took it very badly as he felt he had failed Billy and their mother. Two years and four months after Billy's killing our father Desmond was also dead at just 46 years old due to drink brought on by the murder and lies told to defend the killing.

“The devastating impact of Billy’s death cannot be overstated. It effectively left us as orphans within two years, as we wholly believe had Billy not been shot that night, our father would not have died so soon from a broken heart.”

The family engaged with the Historical Enquiries Team with the support of the Pat Finucane Centre. The HET report reproduced a report by the local RUC Commander, Chief Superintendent Frank Lagan submitted to police Headquarters and dated November 8, 1971. It states: “Taking all the circumstances into consideration I cannot find that soldier ‘A’s’ action was justifiable and I therefore recommend that he be charged with the murder of William F. McGreanery.”

The HET concluded that “there is an abundance of evidence from the civilian witnesses to say that Mr McGreanery was not armed and therefore posed no threat whatsoever to the soldier(s)…. He was not involved with any paramilitary organisation, he was not carrying a firearm of any description, and he posed no threat to the soldiers at the observation post.”

In September 2011 the family received a written apology from the Chief of General Staff at the MOD, Sir Peter Wall, stating: “I do not believe that anything I can say will ease the sorrow you feel for what has happened, but I hope that this apology, and the findings of the Historical Enquiries Team, will be of some comfort to you.”

In 2013 the PFC uncovered a number of declassified British government documents concerning the prosecution of soldiers that the Attorney General had on his desk a recommendation from the RUC that a soldier be ‘tried for the murder of a man named McGreanery in Londonderry.’ No prosecution followed.

In the same year the family received an apology on behalf of the MOD & British government from the Minister for Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan in Westminster. This was during an adjournment debate brought by SDLP MP Mark Durkan at the request of the family.

The family subsequently applied to the Attorney General for fresh inquest. KRW engaged in lengthy correspondence with the AG’s office, and in 2017 the AG confirmed that he had referred the case to the PPS who then directed the PSNI to carry out a number of enquiries. LIB undertook a review of the case, before commencing a full investigation.

In September 2021 Soldier ‘A’ interviewed under caution by LIB and in June 2022 a file was submitted to the PPS by the PSNI LIB for review.