HET Review Summary Report into the death of William Francis ...

James McGINLEY
Mr McGinley made his statement on October 4, 1971 to Senator Claude
Wilton, solicitor for the family of Mr McGreanery.
He said that about 11.40pm on September 14, 1971 he was at home when
he received a visit from Mr McGreanery. They talked for a while and
about 12.30am on September 15, 1971 they left to go for a walk. As they
walked they met up with Michael Campbell and Mark McLaughlin.
The four men continued walking together and at Beechwood Avenue they
stopped a car that was being driven by Sean Canning who told them about
the barricade that had been erected across Laburnum Terrace.
Mr Canning left his car and walked with the other four men. On the way
to Westland Street, Mr Canning and Mr McGreanery stopped to examine
a plank of wood that had been nailed to the road. (It was obviously
designed to puncture vehicle tyres as nails had been hammered through it
and were pointing skywards).
The five men then decided to look at the barricade on Laburnum Terrace.
Having reached this point they discovered that the only way to get past
the barricade was to step over a low wall that was at the entrance to the
end house at Laburnum Terrace.
Messrs McGinley, Canning and McGreanery got over the wall, stopped for
a while and looked up towards the Creggan. They intended to walk down
Westland Street. They hesitated for a short time by the gable end of
the last house of Laburnum Terrace and then began to walk towards the
roadway. As they did so Mr McGinley heard a shot. He saw Mr
McGreanery fall to the ground. He then heard him say, “I am shot”. Mr
McGinley then saw two people dragging Mr McGreanery away. He decided
to leave the scene of the shooting to find a priest. He went with Mr
Canning in his car.
Mr McGinley stated that Mr McGreanery was not in possession of a rifle
when he was shot.
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