ICRIR launches appeal for witnesses to find truth for families
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (the Commission) has launched appeals for witnesses to come forward in relation to two investigations following requests from the victims’ families.
Teresa Carson was found dead at the side of the Glen Road close to the junction with Shaw’s Road, Belfast in November 1974. She was 47 years old.
William Marchant was shot on the Shankill Road in April 1987 and later died at the Mater hospital. He was 39 years old.
In both cases the families who lost their loved one have come to the Commission seeking the truth about what happened.
Assistant Commissioner Amanda Logan is leading the Investigations team and is urging anyone with information to come forward to help the families involved.
“Today our thoughts are very much with the families of Teresa Carson and William Marchant. They have come to the Commission and asked us to help them find out what happened to their loved one.
“We have always underlined the Commission’s unwavering commitment to helping families find the unvarnished truth and this is at the centre of our witness appeals.
“The relatives of Teresa Carson and William Marchant believe that someone may hold vital information that could prove key to the investigations.”
The Assistant Commissioner added :“These families have waited many years for answers and we at the Commission are committed to doing everything we can to support them. If members of the public have any information about either of these cases, please come forward.
“No matter how unimportant your information may seem, what you share could be vital to finding the truth for the families. All information we receive will be treated in the strictest confidence.”
The witness appeals will involve distributing posters and organised leaflet drops in the areas relating to both investigations.
Notes to editors:
Case details:
William Marchant, known to his family as Billy and more widely as Frenchie, was shot outside the PUP offices on the Shankill Road at approximately 3:00pm on Tuesday 28 April 1987. He later died at the Mater Hospital. He was 39 years old.
A brown, Datsun Bluebird car, registration number YOI 2557, was used in the attack. The car had been hijacked earlier in the day after a family was held at gunpoint overnight at Tullymore Gardens in west Belfast.
The car is believed to have been driven away from the scene on the Shankill Road via Bellevue Street and was found on fire later that evening on Springfield Avenue.
Teresa Carson was found dead at 12:40am on Sunday 24 November 1974 at the side of the Glen Road close to the junction with Shaw’s Road, Belfast. Teresa was 47 years old at the time of her death.
It is believed that Teresa attended St John’s GAC Social Club, Whiterock Road, Belfast on the evening of Saturday 23 November 1974, and she was witness to a robbery at the club. She was last seen in the grounds of the club at 12:15am on Sunday 24 November 1974, getting into a white coloured car.
Our Appeals for Information webpage is published on our website here: https://icrir.independent-inquiry.uk/appeals-for-information/
Anyone with information can contact the ICRIR by:
Telephone: 02890 362093