MURDER
CASE #: 1971-14
Annette McGavigan
Status:
Open
Date of Offense:
Date of Offense:
Jurisdiction:
Offense Location:
Derry, Northern Ireland
Summary:
Annette McGavigan was a 14-year-old girl fatally wounded by a gunshot in crossfire between British soldiers and the IRA on 6 September 1971. After three years of conflict in Northern Ireland, Annette became the 100th civilian to be killed in the Troubles. No individual has been charged with her death.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
Annette lived with her parents, four brothers and two sisters, in Drumcliffe Avenue in the Bogside. She was a pupil at St. Cecilia's College in Derry. Annette and her fellow schoolmates had been let out of school early that day due to the disturbances in the area. After the rioting had begun to wane at approximately 18:00, Annette, still wearing her school uniform and holding an ice-cream in her hand, was shot in the back of the head while standing at the corner of Blucher Street and Westland Street. Reportedly, McGavigan was shot as she attempted to pick up a rubber bullet to add to her collection of riot souvenirs. She was carried by local people into a house in Blucher St. She was taken by ambulance to Altnagelvin Hospital, but tragically she was pronounced dead on admission.
Additional Details:
Over 10,000 people attended the funeral of Annette McGavigan in September 1971. McGavigan's family has claimed that the bullet which killed her was fired by a British soldier. An inadequate and unsatisfactory investigation was carried out by the army into the killing of Annette McGavigan. Discrepancies between soldiers' testimonies have never been officially explored. The PSNI have been conducting an investigation into the circumstances of Annette's death for the past number of years. Following an appeal from the family on Annette's 50th anniversary, a number of new witnesses came forwards and provided statements to the police. Police confirmed that Soldier B, the soldier they have identified as firing the fatal shot which killed Annette, had been interviewed under caution in May 2023. The Public Prosecution Service announced its decision not to prosecute in connection with Annette's death on Monday of April 2024. A former soldier, known as Soldier B, was reported in connection with the shooting of Annette in a file from the PSNI to the PPS. Annette's shoes, school uniform and schoolbag are on display at the Museum of Free Derry. Annette is the subject of a Bogside mural entitled "The Death of Innocence." This mural is located on the gable wall of a maisonnette on the junction of Lecky Road and Westland Street, close to Free Derry Corner. The mural was originally unveiled on Wednesday 1 September 1999, and depicts Annette in her school uniform with an encircled, blue butterfly to the above right of her head.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
The Public Prosecution Service announced it would not prosecute the identified soldier, citing insufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he fired the fatal shots.
Police submitted a file to the Public Prosecution Service regarding the identified suspect in Annette's death.
A former British soldier, identified as 'Soldier B', was interviewed under caution by PSNI regarding Annette's death—the first questioning of the suspect since the original 1971 military inquiry.
Over 10,000 people attended Annette's funeral procession through Derry, one of the largest ever seen in the city.
Annette was pronounced dead on admission at Altnagelvin Hospital.
Annette McGavigan, wearing her school uniform and holding an ice-cream, was shot in the back of the head at the corner of Blucher Street and Westland Street in the Bogside while attempting to collect a rubber bullet as a souvenir.
The 'Death of Innocence' mural depicting Annette was unveiled by the Bogside Artists on the junction of Lecky Road and Westland Street.
Associated Persons
William M. (Father) - Deceased
Martin M. (Sibling) - Living
Edward D. (Other) - Deceased
Annie M. (Mother) - Deceased
Kevin M. (Sibling) - Living
May M. (Sibling) - Living
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