Teenage schoolboy Paul Whitters was shot dead by the RUC in April 1981
Fifteen-year-old Paul Whitters was fatally injured after a day of rioting in the city during the hunger strikes.
His family fear the policeman who fired the fatal bullet will be granted an amnesty under government proposals that would see an end to Troubles-related prosecutions.
The proposals would apply to former members of the security forces and to former paramilitaries, as well as marking an end to future inquests and civil actions.
Paul’s uncle Tony Brown has questioned the British government’s commitment to releasing information about Troubles’ killings after the family was denied access to files for reasons of national security for another three decades.
“We have been told that files relating to Paul’s death will remain closed until 2059,” he said.
Tony Brown has questioned the government’s commitment to releasing information about Troubles killings
“What is the point in drawing a line if the government are determined to keep some matters secret?”
He also challenged British Secretary of State Brandon Lewis, who announced the legacy plans in a statement to the House of Commons.
“Don’t insult the families, don’t insult our intelligence and don’t talk about transparency when you are using that to hide a lack of integrity,” said Mr Brown.
The family of the first UDR soldier murdered in the Troubles have said they feel betrayed by the government’s legacy proposals.
Winston Donnell was manning a checkpoint at Clady outside Strabane when he was shot dead on 9 August 1971.
IRA gunmen opened fire on the 22-year-old from a passing car.
His family now fear his killers will be granted an amnesty under government proposals that would see an end to Troubles-related prosecutions.
The proposals would apply to former members of the security forces and to former paramilitaries, as well as marking an end to future inquests and civil actions.
Mr Donnell, from Urney, Co Tyrone, was killed as he took part in an operation launched after the introduction of internment – imprisonment without trial for those suspected of being involved in violence during the Troubles.
On the 50th anniversary of his killing his family have now spoken for the first time about what happened.
Winston Donnell was manning a checkpoint at Clady outside Strabane when he was shot dead by the IRA
“The car reversed into the patrol with the back window out and Winston knew what was happening and jumped into the middle of the road and they just fired into him,” she said.
“With his actions that night he saved the rest of the patrol.”
No-one was convicted of the killing and the Donnell family say they feel let down by the government.
“We always had a very slim hope of getting justice but what the government is doing now with this amnesty has let us and other families down – our government has let us down badly,” said Mrs Robinson.
“It is clear it is all signed and sealed because the government has announced it.”
The family has appealed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to pull back and to allow relatives to pursue justice for their loved ones.
The British Government’s legacy proposals could become law later this year.
But the proposals have been rejected by all the main parties in the North of Ireland.
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