IRA says it fired fatal shot

The Provisional IRA has said it was responsible for a gunshot
that killed schoolgirl Kathleen Feeney during a battle with the
British Army in Derry in 1973.

At the time, it was believed that the girl had died as a result
of shots fired by British troops. However, family members have
long insisted the shot that killed Kathleen was fired by an IRA
Volunteer.

The statement, released in Derry this week, reads in full:

"On 14th November 1973, 14-yearold Kathleen Feeney was shot dead
in Quarry Street, Derry.

"The IRA in Derry, in a statement, denied that any of its
volunteers were responsible for the death of Kathleen Feeney. In
a further statement, the IRA in Derry claimed to have carried
out an operation against the British Army in retaliation for the
death of Kathleen Feeney.

"The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has been asked by the
Feeney family to examine the circumstances surrounding the death
of their sister and to publicly acknowledge that she was killed
by the IRA.

"The IRA leadership agreed to do so. We found, as the Feeney
family have always believed, that Kathleen was hit by one of a
number of shots fired by an IRA Active Service Unit that had
fired upon a British army foot-patrol in the Lecky Road area.

"The IRA accepts responsibility for the death of Kathleen
Feeney. Our failure to publicly accept responsibility for her
death until now has only added to the hurt and pain of the
Feeney family.

"The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann wish to apologise
unreservedly to the Feeney family for the death of Kathleen and
for all the grief that our actions have caused to them."

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams welcomed the move.

"The most important element in all of that is the Feeney
family," he said.

"I would hope that the statement helps to bring closure to that
family and I therefore welcome that statement.

"At least the IRA is prepared to stand up and take
responsibility for something that they did.

"There is an absence of that both in terms of armed
organisations and in terms of politicians," Mr Adams said.

In a statement yesterday, the Feeney family said they had sought
an unconditional apology for the death of their sister.

"It is the family's wish that this will help bring closure," the
statement said.


FORENSIC HELP

Meanwhile, the Dublin and London governments are to appoint a
forensic expert to help find the still-missing remains of
victims of the conflict, known as the 'Disappeared'.

The appointment of an expert skilled in finding human remains
was suggested to the governments more than three years ago.

Speaking in Dublin, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams questioned
why the governments had taken until now to follow up on his
party's proposal. "I welcome that they have finally moved but
there's a question mark as to why it took so long," he said.

Mr Adams said he hoped those bodies still to be found would be
located and returned to their families for burial.

"I'm fairly certain, without raising expectations, that we will
eventually get those remains and give them back to the
families," he said. "We have never stopped trying to help. I
understand that this is a horrendously difficult issue,
particularly for families who are being denied a funeral."

He made his remarks as the families of others who have gone
missing, presumed dead, also called for such a
government-appointed specialist to help investigate their cases.

The IRA has attempted to identify the graves of nine victims
whose remains have not been recovered, but five have still to be
found