The Pat Finucane Centre has published a new report on the killing of Christopher Quinn, a 39-year-old father of five from North Belfast, who was shot dead by a British soldier on November 4, 1971, in Unity Flats.

Quinn was a member of the Catholic Ex-Servicemen's Association and was covering a neighbour's shift patrolling the area around Unity Flats, a Catholic enclave at the foot of the Shankill, on the night of his death. He was unarmed.

An inquest in April 1972 returned an open verdict. Coroner James Elliott described the evidence as confusing and said it was impossible to determine if the killing was justifiable.

Christopher Quinn's daughter, Roberta O'Neill, was nine years old when her father was killed. At the report launch, she said her father was innocent and she wanted the soldier who shot him to be charged with murder.

O'Neill said her mother fought for years for justice and died aged 83 without ever receiving an apology or public clarification that her husband was not a gunman. She said the British Government and British Army had been a disgrace and needed to admit their wrongs.

Paul O'Connor of the Pat Finucane Centre, who helped compile the report, said it included declassified documents showing the Ministry of Defence knew Quinn was unarmed and a civilian. The ministry required his widow to go to court to prove his innocence and paid £500 in damages, despite the case initially being valued at £10,000.

O'Connor said the matter had been raised with numerous Secretaries of State, who said the widow had signed an agreement at the time.

The Pat Finucane Centre said the reports are an important way to ensure victims like Christopher Quinn are not forgotten.