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1 December 2010
Last updated at 07:34 ET
The family of a man shot dead by soldiers in 1971 has welcomed a report by the Historical Enquiries team which says he was an innocent victim.
Michael McLarnon, 22, was shot dead at Etna Drive in the Ardoyne area.
In 1975, Lieutenant Clifford Burrage told the family he shot Mr McLarnon as he was armed and organising IRA gunmen.
However, on Wednesday Mr McLarnon's sister Mary Kelly said the HET had found a different army patrol fired the shots and Michael was an innocent man.
Details of the report were released at a press conference by the Pat Finucane Centre.
Mr Burrage wrote to the McLarnon family four years after the killing admitting to shooting their son, then appeared with Mrs Kelly on the BBC's Facing the Truth programme in 2006.
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Mrs Kelly told Wednesday's press conference the HET report had produced "irrefutable evidence that Michael was innocent".
"The HET not only thinks that Michael was a complete innocent victim, but also considers that Lieutenant Burrage - despite his longstanding claim - was not the person that shot Michael.
"During the review of the case, the HET found that the evidence Burrage had given over the years, including on the BBC programme, did not match the facts. "
She said the report found that another group of soldiers had fired two live rounds and plastic bullets at a crowd that had gathered in the area.
She said one of the bullets struck her brother as he stood at the gate of his house. He died hours later in the Mater Hospital.
"We welcome the HET's conclusion that Michael was a totally innocent victim," Mrs Kelly said.
"He was not in possession of a firearm that night and he was not organising other gunmen in Etna Drive."
The Pat Finucane Centre, representing Michael McLarnon's family, said the original investigation into the shooting by the Royal Military Police was irrevocably flawed.
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Michael McLarnon, 22, was shot dead at Etna Drive in the Ardoyne area.
In 1975, Lieutenant Clifford Burrage told the family he shot Mr McLarnon as he was armed and organising IRA gunmen.
However, on Wednesday Mr McLarnon's sister Mary Kelly said the HET had found a different army patrol fired the shots and Michael was an innocent man.
Details of the report were released at a press conference by the Pat Finucane Centre.
Mr Burrage wrote to the McLarnon family four years after the killing admitting to shooting their son, then appeared with Mrs Kelly on the BBC's Facing the Truth programme in 2006.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
We welcome the HET's conclusion that Michael was a totally innocent victim”
End Quote
Mary Kelly
Victim's sister
Mrs Kelly told Wednesday's press conference the HET report had produced "irrefutable evidence that Michael was innocent".
"The HET not only thinks that Michael was a complete innocent victim, but also considers that Lieutenant Burrage - despite his longstanding claim - was not the person that shot Michael.
"During the review of the case, the HET found that the evidence Burrage had given over the years, including on the BBC programme, did not match the facts. "
She said the report found that another group of soldiers had fired two live rounds and plastic bullets at a crowd that had gathered in the area.
She said one of the bullets struck her brother as he stood at the gate of his house. He died hours later in the Mater Hospital.
"We welcome the HET's conclusion that Michael was a totally innocent victim," Mrs Kelly said.
"He was not in possession of a firearm that night and he was not organising other gunmen in Etna Drive."
The Pat Finucane Centre, representing Michael McLarnon's family, said the original investigation into the shooting by the Royal Military Police was irrevocably flawed.
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