
Appeal for witnesses in two deaths during Troubles
They relate to the deaths of two people in Belfast in the seventies and eighties.
Teresa Carson was found dead at the side of the Glen Road in November 1974. She was 47 years old.
William Marchant was shot on the Shankill Road in April 1987 and later died in hospital. He was 39 years old.
In both cases the families who lost their loved one came to the Commission seeking the truth about what happened.
Last seen getting into a white coloured car
Teresa Carson was found dead at 12.40am on Sunday, 24 November 1974 at the side of the Glen Road close to the junction with the Shaw's Road.
It is thought that Ms Carson attended St John's GAC Social Club on the Whiterock Road and that she was a witness to a robbery at the club.
She was last seen in the grounds of the club at 12.15am on Sunday, 24 November 1974, getting into a white coloured car.
William Marchant, known to his family as Billy and more widely as Frenchie, was shot outside the PUP offices on the Shankill Road at approximately 3pm on Tuesday, 28 April 1987.
He later died at the Mater Hospital.
Datsun Bluebird Car used in attack
A brown, Datsun Bluebird car, registration number YOI 2557, was used in the attack.
The car had been hijacked earlier in the day after a family was held at gunpoint overnight in Tullymore Gardens in west Belfast.
It is thought that the car was driven away from the scene on the Shankill Road via Bellevue Street and was found on fire later that evening on Springfield Avenue.
Launching the witness appeals today, it was said it would involve distributing posters and organised leaflet drops in the areas relating to both investigations.
Assistant Commissioner Amanda Logan is leading the Investigations team and is urging anyone with information to come forward to help the families involved.
"Today our thoughts are very much with the families of Teresa Carson and William Marchant. They have come to the Commission and asked us to help them find out what happened to their loved one.
"We have always underlined the Commission's unwavering commitment to helping families find the unvarnished truth and this is at the centre of our witness appeals," she said.
Relatives believe 'someone may hold vital information'
"The relatives of Teresa Carson and William Marchant believe that someone may hold vital information that could prove key to the investigations."
The Assistant Commissioner added :"These families have waited many years for answers and we at the Commission are committed to doing everything we can to support them. If members of the public have any information about either of these cases, please come forward.
"No matter how unimportant your information may seem, what you share could be vital to finding the truth for the families. All information we receive will be treated in the strictest confidence."
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is the central plank of the UK government's controversial Act to deal with the legacy of the troubles.
The Commission was established by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation Act) 2023 and in operation since last year.
It has the remit to investigate hundreds of unresolved legacy deaths and cases of serious harm which happened before the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
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5 days ago
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Fresh appeals have been made for witnesses to separate deaths of a man and a woman in west Belfast during the Troubles. The appeals into the deaths of Teresa Carson and William Marchant will involve distributing posters and organised leaflet drops in the areas relating to both investigations. Ms Carson (47), was found dead at the side of the Glen Road in the early hours of Sunday November 24th, 1974. It is understood she had witnessed a robbery St John's GAC Social Club on Whiterock Road hours before. She was last seen in the grounds of the club at 12.15am getting into a white coloured car. Mr Marchant (39), who was also known as Billy or Frenchie, was shot outside the Progressive Unionist Party offices on Shankill Road at approximately 3pm on April 28th, 1987, and later died in hospital. A brown coloured Datsun Bluebird car, registration number YOI 2557, was used in the attack. It had been hijacked earlier in the day after a family was held at gunpoint overnight at Tullymore Gardens in west Belfast. William Marchant: shot on the Shankill Road in April 1987. Photograph: Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery/PA Wire The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery has issued appeals for witnesses to come forward in relation to investigations into both deaths following requests from the victims' families. Assistant commissioner Amanda Logan said their families asked the commission to help them find out what happened to their loved ones. 'We have always underlined the commission's unwavering commitment to helping families find the unvarnished truth and this is at the centre of our witness appeals,' she said. 'The relatives of Teresa Carson and William Marchant believe that someone may hold vital information that could prove key to the investigations. 'These families have waited many years for answers and we at the commission are committed to doing everything we can to support them. If members of the public have any information about either of these cases, please come forward.' She added: 'No matter how unimportant your information may seem, what you share could be vital to finding the truth for the families. All information we receive will be treated in the strictest confidence.' - PA