Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
    • GAA

      Donegal hints at return to ‘even’ juvenile…

      8 hours ago

      GAA

      Donegal GAA to retain unloved juvenile age…

      15 hours ago

      Football

      Finn Harps Season Ticket sales surpass 2022…

      1 day ago

      Sport

      Manorcunningham win East Donegal Kurling League

      2 days ago

      Athletics

      Five golds for Donegal athletes at National…

      3 days ago

      Athletics

      Letterkenny AC and Finn Valley AC hit…

      3 days ago

      Athletics

      Silver for Amy Timoney at Scottish Championships

      4 days ago

      Athletics

      Ann-Marie McGlynn wins Raheny 5 Mile

      1 week ago

      Boxing

      Jason Quigley set to return to the…

      5 days ago

      Boxing

      Ardara native Liam Doyle ‘flushed’ with Boxing…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Paddy Barnes to deliver boxing masterclass at…

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Jason Quigley sets his sights on ring…

      4 weeks ago

      Football

      Finn Harps Season Ticket sales surpass 2022…

      1 day ago

      Football

      Inishowen League: Results and reports

      3 days ago

      Football

      Donegal League: Reports, results and fixtures

      3 days ago

      Football

      Scoil Mhuire Buncrana reach another FAI Schools…

      6 days ago

      GAA

      Donegal hints at return to ‘even’ juvenile…

      8 hours ago

      GAA

      Donegal GAA to retain unloved juvenile age…

      15 hours ago

      GAA

      Watch: ‘Lessons to be learned’ for Paddy…

      3 days ago

      GAA

      Donegal well beaten away to Tyrone in…

      3 days ago

      Golf

      Buncrana Golf Club issue warning to vandals…

      2 weeks ago

      Golf

      Golf: Eccles and McDermott win 2022 Owen…

      2 weeks ago

      Golf

      New Gents Captain and President elected at…

      3 weeks ago

      Golf

      Rosapenna ranks third in Best Modern Golf…

      4 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey – MacBeth hat trick sets Raphoe…

      2 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Mens 1st XI start the new…

      1 month ago

      Hockey

      Hockey – Raphoe drop valuable league points…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe reach Ulster Linden Cup final…

      3 months ago

      Hurling

      Watch: McCann focused on League as McGurk…

      4 days ago

      Hurling

      Perfect start for Donegal hurlers with win…

      4 days ago

      Hurling

      Donegal into Conor McGurk Cup final as…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      Donegal’s Conor McGurk Cup clash with Antrim…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Monaghan Rugby Club donate €1,200 to Creeslough…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Donegal’s most senior Rugby player Keith Anderson…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Three Donegal women start for Ulster in…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny RFC girls watched by 18,000 at…

      1 month ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
Wednesday 9°CThursday 8°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

  • News
  • Sport
    • GAA

      Donegal hints at return to ‘even’ juvenile…

      8 hours ago

      GAA

      Donegal GAA to retain unloved juvenile age…

      15 hours ago

      Football

      Finn Harps Season Ticket sales surpass 2022…

      1 day ago

      Sport

      Manorcunningham win East Donegal Kurling League

      2 days ago

      Athletics

      Five golds for Donegal athletes at National…

      3 days ago

      Athletics

      Letterkenny AC and Finn Valley AC hit…

      3 days ago

      Athletics

      Silver for Amy Timoney at Scottish Championships

      4 days ago

      Athletics

      Ann-Marie McGlynn wins Raheny 5 Mile

      1 week ago

      Boxing

      Jason Quigley set to return to the…

      5 days ago

      Boxing

      Ardara native Liam Doyle ‘flushed’ with Boxing…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Paddy Barnes to deliver boxing masterclass at…

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Jason Quigley sets his sights on ring…

      4 weeks ago

      Football

      Finn Harps Season Ticket sales surpass 2022…

      1 day ago

      Football

      Inishowen League: Results and reports

      3 days ago

      Football

      Donegal League: Reports, results and fixtures

      3 days ago

      Football

      Scoil Mhuire Buncrana reach another FAI Schools…

      6 days ago

      GAA

      Donegal hints at return to ‘even’ juvenile…

      8 hours ago

      GAA

      Donegal GAA to retain unloved juvenile age…

      15 hours ago

      GAA

      Watch: ‘Lessons to be learned’ for Paddy…

      3 days ago

      GAA

      Donegal well beaten away to Tyrone in…

      3 days ago

      Golf

      Buncrana Golf Club issue warning to vandals…

      2 weeks ago

      Golf

      Golf: Eccles and McDermott win 2022 Owen…

      2 weeks ago

      Golf

      New Gents Captain and President elected at…

      3 weeks ago

      Golf

      Rosapenna ranks third in Best Modern Golf…

      4 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey – MacBeth hat trick sets Raphoe…

      2 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Mens 1st XI start the new…

      1 month ago

      Hockey

      Hockey – Raphoe drop valuable league points…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe reach Ulster Linden Cup final…

      3 months ago

      Hurling

      Watch: McCann focused on League as McGurk…

      4 days ago

      Hurling

      Perfect start for Donegal hurlers with win…

      4 days ago

      Hurling

      Donegal into Conor McGurk Cup final as…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      Donegal’s Conor McGurk Cup clash with Antrim…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Monaghan Rugby Club donate €1,200 to Creeslough…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Donegal’s most senior Rugby player Keith Anderson…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Three Donegal women start for Ulster in…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny RFC girls watched by 18,000 at…

      1 month ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
News

Campaign into killing of young Donegal man gathers momentum

written by Stephen Maguire October 8, 2019
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

A campaign to have a new inquest into the death of a young Donegal man who was shot dead by the RUC is gathering pace.

Michael Leonard was the son of the late Maurice & Maureen Leonard of Tievemore, Pettigo.

Michael was only 24 years of age when he was shot dead by RUC officers on the 17th May 1973 on a quiet country road after a car chase near the border between Pettigo and Belleek.

As part of a campaign for a fresh inquest, the case was raised last week in Seanad Éireann by Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill, as requested by Cllr. Michèal Naughton and the Leonard family with Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, Senator Ò Domhnaill called for fresh and transparent inquiry.

He requested the British government to fully co-operate with this fresh investigation, including making discovery of all relevant police and military records relating to the killing of Mr Leonard, an Irish citizen from Pettigo.

In May, it emerged that the north’s Attorney General, John Larkin, had said the shooting was not justified and referred it to the Director of Public Prosecutions to review whether police should be prosecuted before considering a new inquest.

Police claimed at the time that Mr Leonard, who was a disqualified driver, had failed to stop when he got into a car after leaving a shop and a single shot was later fired during a chase.

However, evidence uncovered during a trawl of British army logs at the National Archives at Kew in London appeared to contradict the single shot claim.

It was found by researcher Ciarán MacAirt from the charity Paper Trail and was published in a report written by Mr Leonard’s cousin, Fr Joe McVeigh.

The Leonard family have been trying to unearth the truth since the evening Michael Leonard was shot dead when RUC officers opened fire on him. An inquest was held a number of months shortly afterwards but none of the three officers who were travelling in the Land Rover that evening were present. There was no cross examination, an RUC inspector gave evidence to the coroner. However the inquest was riddled with holes and the RUC on at least three occasions changed details of the story concerning the unlawful murder of Michael Leonard.

A response on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, says “The Government understands that the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland is actively considering the case, further to a referral by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

“The Government is also aware that a complaint has been made to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland about the investigation of the fatal shooting of
Mr. Leonard and that the ombudsman is assessing whether it is a matter that can be investigated by that office. The PSNI is also seized of this case and has stated that it not in a position to comment at this stage.”

Cllr. Naughton said this is a sensitive matter that dates back to 1973 and that he firstly wanted to acknowledge the search for justice by the Leonard family since then.

He said “This recent debate in the Oireachtas is an important milestone for the family in their campaign for truth and justice for Michael. There is no other way of putting it, Michael was killed deliberately, there is now hard evidence to confirm there was no single, accidental one shot or checkpoint.

“The British records prove there were three shots and I fully support the Leonard family in their endeavour to find truth and justice for the killing of this young man”.

Campaign into killing of young Donegal man gathers momentum was last modified: October 7th, 2019 by Stephen Maguire
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
deathMichael LeonardPettigoRUC
Stephen Maguire

Stephen Maguire is the co-founder of Donegal Daily. He has worked as a reporter for almost 30 years starting locally with the Donegal Peoples Press before moving to the Mirror Group. He continues to contribute daily to national media outlets including the Irish Times, RTE, the Irish Independent, Irish Sun, Irish Mirror, Irish Star, the Daily Mail and the Examiner.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Donegal woman scoops Make Up Business of...

3 hours ago

East Donegal town to hold unique information...

4 hours ago

Raphoe schools come together for spectacular ‘theatrical...

5 hours ago

Video project shows Inishowen is ‘hot spot’...

6 hours ago

Donegal’s new millionaire wastes no time collecting...

6 hours ago

Donegal TD calls for anti-refugee sentiment to...

7 hours ago

Donegal Gardaí warn public about latest ‘bailiff’...

8 hours ago

Selected Donegal routes to be gritted tonight

9 hours ago

Get Nutrifresh™ Glass containers from €0.01 at...

9 hours ago

Intriguing local play to premiere at The...

10 hours ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

MOST POPULAR

Donegal County Council
Advertisement

Sport Hub

  • Stay up to date with Donegal Sport Hub on Facebook

    1 year ago
  • Donegal links rank in Top 100 Golf Courses in the World

    1 year ago
  • Bundoran 10 Event set for March 2022

    1 year ago
See More

Donegal Woman

  • Donegal woman scoops Make Up Business of the Year award

    10 hours ago
  • Donegal mother and daughter say Mother and Baby Home redress exclusions are ‘insult’ to survivors

    12 hours ago
  • Whoriskey’s Christmas Lights raise another amazing sum for charity

    4 days ago
See More

Columnists

Motoring - Brian McDaid

DD Motoring: Toni and Galway go live!

1 week ago

Group Holidays - Travel Department

Travel: 10 best things to do in beautiful Croatia

1 week ago

Career Advice - Rory White

Leaving Cert Class of 2023: Why you should make your CAO application now

3 weeks ago

Rethink Money - Sean McNulty

DD Money: 15 Christmas spending tips: How to save money this holiday season

1 month ago

Healthy Living - Sorcha McElchar

Why you really need to make a grocery list! – Sorcha’s Healthy Living

4 months ago

See All Columnists
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2023 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.