The family of the first child to die in the Troubles is set to receive "significant compensation" over his killing by police in west Belfast, the High Court has heard.
An apology was also issued for their hurt and suffering since nine-year-old Patrick Rooney was shot dead in his own home at the Divis Flats in August 1969.
The settlement was announced in a legal action taken by Patrick's mother against the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for the unlawful death.
Urging the authorities to ensure no further delays in approving the undisclosed figure, Mr Justice Kevin Rooney said: "This is an extraordinarily sad case."
Patrick died after Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers opened fire from vehicle-mounted machine guns to deal with disturbances at the beginning of the conflict.
He had taken shelter along with his five siblings and their parents, Neilly and Alice, in a bedroom at their home in a bid to stay safe from the shooting outside.
Up to 200 high velocity rounds were discharged, striking a number of properties in the tower blocks.
Patrick, the eldest of the six children, was shot through the head in front of the rest of his family.
His parents were unable to secure medical assistance at the scene.
Instead, his father Neilly and other members of the public had to carry him from the immediate area to reach an ambulance.
Following the fatal shooting, members of the RUC took steps to prevent an adequate or effective probe into the circumstances, according to the family’s lawyers.
In 2021 a Police Ombudsman report identified significant operational and investigative failures during the killing of Patrick and three others in Belfast at that time.
The use of Browning machine guns mounted on RUC Shorland vehicles to deal with civil unrest in the area was criticised as fundamentally flawed, disproportionate and dangerous.
However, no surviving ex-police officer was prosecuted due to a lack of evidence.
Ombudsman investigators were unable to identify which vehicle the shot which killed Patrick was fired from.
Call to fast-track settlement
His 88-year-old mother Alice sued the Chief Constable over both the shooting and the failure to conduct an effective inquiry or discipline the officers responsible.
Damages were sought for negligence, breach of statutory duty, assault and battery, conspiracy to commit an unlawful act, and misfeasance in public office.
Ms Rooney was unable to accompany other family members to court today due to ill-health.
But her barrister, Patrick Lyttle KC, confirmed that the terms of a settlement have been reached.
"This is a tragic case arising out of the death of Patrick Rooney at the age of nine," counsel said.
"He was struck by a bullet discharged from a heavy duty Browning machine gun mounted on a (Shorland) vehicle, shot in his own home."
Under the terms of the resolution an apology was read out in open court.
It stated: "As a result of negotiations, the plaintiff Mrs Rooney, has agreed a satisfactory full and final settlement of this action with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
"The PSNI acknowledges the hurt and suffering caused to the family and wishes to sincerely apologise for the loss they endured."
Formal authorisation for the undisclosed damages is still to be obtained from the Policing Board, along with the Department of Justice and Department of Finance at Stormont.
But Mr Lyttle confirmed: "A significant figure in terms of compensation has been agreed."
The judge called on the authorities to fast-track the settlement reached over the killing of Patrick.
"The trauma this must have resulted in (for the family) is just unimaginable," Mr Justice Rooney said.
"His mother is still alive and clearly wants full resolution for what happened in the most tragic circumstances as soon as possible.
"Now that counsel has sensibly resolved this matter after such a long time there should be no further delay."
Outside court, the Rooney family described it as a "bittersweet" outcome.
Patrick’s brother, Con, said: "It was never about the money, you can't put a price on life, but the police must be apologising for something."
Even though no police officers were ever charged over the killing, Con Rooney acknowledged the settlement represented a vindication for his mother and late father.
"My daddy died in 2013, and on his death bed he asked us to keep going and don’t let this go," he said.
In an emotional recollection of the events surrounding Patrick’s death, he added: "It was horrific that night, I was eight years old and imagined (the police) kicking the door in to line us up and shoot us.
"We were frightened out of our lives, they petrified us."
The family’s solicitor, Katie McAllister of Madden and Finucane, said it had taken 56 years for a chief constable to offer an apology for the unlawful death.
"This occurred in the most violent, indiscriminate and in fact avoidable circumstances," she stressed.
"Patrick was killed in his own bedroom, the very place that he should have been most safe from danger."
She claimed death or serious injury was an inevitable consequence of the "shocking and abhorrent" shootings at Divis Flats.
"The RUC fired 200 rounds of high velocity machine gun fire at no identifiable targets, raking poorly constructed flats indiscriminately," Ms McAllister added.
"While a financial settlement does not right the RUC’s wrongdoing, we are satisfied that we have been able to secure a significant settlement, the terms of which are confidential, and moreover an apology for Mrs Rooney."
