Patterns of Evidence VII: Lessons in Murder - IRA School Murders
Act I - The School Run William Staunton In 1972 the PIRA campaign was at its most intense but even in places profoundly impacted by the violence daily life went on. Thus it was that William Staunton, like parents all over the world, made the school run with his two daughters and some of their friends on 11th October 1972. He drew up outside St Dominic’s High School on the Falls Road around 8:45am. Most of the children had left the car when two men pulled up alongside on a motorcycle. One of the magistrate’s daughters was still in the car when the pillion passenger on the bike fired through the driver’s window hitting Mr Staunton in the head and body. Belfast Telegraph report on the shooting. He slumped forward over the wheel and the car went out of control, crashing into the nearby school wall. He was helped by passers by including a doctor from the nearby Royal Victoria, underwent a seven hour operation and spent 15 weeks in intensive care. But the father of 4