The families of five people killed by British Army soldiers in west Belfast on 9 July 1972 have accused the UK government of deliberate silence after an inquest found the force used was not reasonable.

A coroner ruled last month that soldiers overreacted and that four of the victims were unarmed and posed no threat. The five killed were Fr Noel Fitzpatrick, Patrick Butler, John Dougal, David McCafferty and Margaret Gargan.

The inquest found no warning was given before the shootings and that the force used did not comply with the Army's rules of engagement. The coroner described four of the dead as wholly innocent victims.

In a statement the families said the truth had been established in a court of law and called for a public apology. They noted that apologies followed previous inquests into the Ballymurphy shootings and Bloody Sunday.

The families said the government's silence three weeks after the findings amounted to a continuation of the injustice they had faced for over 50 years. They described the lack of formal acknowledgment as unequal treatment.

The Ministry of Defence said it acknowledged the coroner's findings and was considering them carefully. It said it remained committed to supporting veterans and to truth, recovery, reconciliation and closure.

The inquest concluded just before the deadline imposed by the 2023 Legacy Act for conflict-related inquests.