Den,
Re message to Charlotte.
I thought she should know that there are many Irish people with good reason to hate the British.
I could have added there are many British and Irish people with reason to hate one or another of the paramilitaries.

Re Michael Marley.
Jean McConville came from the same place. She was snatched from her terrified children by IRA, tortured, executed and her body never returned to her family.
I think that witnesses from there would say whatever IRA told them to say.
They probably preferred him to be an innocent victim, than a youth killed because they had militarised him.
He does appear on IRA Rolls Of Honour as having died fighting.

I share your distrust of the soldiers' statements.
(It is illegal here to shoot at a fleeing suspect.)
They were clearly out of control just because they had been attacked with a bomb.

There is still the forensic pathologist's report and the previous sentence for possessing arms and explosives.
(Sweeney must have confused him with another case)

Having said all that I was wrong to bring this up.
It does not detract from the truth of your post, and is not what I started this thread to do.
Sorry

Jean McConville