The curfew in Belfast started at 10 pm and at 9.30 pm the British soldiers were leaving their barracks to enforce it.

A sergeant in charge of one of the patrols heard a shot ring out at 9.35 pm.

He soon discovered that Private Connolly had shot a man.

'It's only 9.35 pm,' roared the sergeant. 'Why did you shoot him?'

'I know that man,' said Private Connolly, 'I know where he lives. He would never have got home by 10 o'clock.'