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Decision not to prosecute soldier over Northern Ireland killing to be reviewed Decision not to prosecute soldier over Northern Ireland killing to be reviewed
(35 minutes later)
Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service is to review a controversial decision not to prosecute a British solider for shooting dead a civilian near the Irish border during the Troubles.Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service is to review a controversial decision not to prosecute a British solider for shooting dead a civilian near the Irish border during the Troubles.
Manslaughter charges against a soldier for killing Aidan McAnespie at the Aughnacloy military checkpoint in 1988 were dropped two years later. Manslaughter charges against the soldier for killing Aidan McAnespie at the Aughnacloy military checkpoint in 1988 were dropped two years later.
But the director of public prosecutions in the region, Barra McGrory, has ordered that decision to be re-examined. The director of public prosecutions in the region, Barra McGrory, has now ordered a re-examination of the decision.
The soldier at the centre of the controversy was fined for negligent discharge of his weapon and later medically discharged from the army.The soldier at the centre of the controversy was fined for negligent discharge of his weapon and later medically discharged from the army.
McAnespie’s family have fought a long campaign to have the failure to prosecute reviewed. His brother Sean said the family had new evidence, stating: “We knew the original decision was wrong.” McAnespie’s family have fought a long campaign to have the failure to prosecute reviewed. His brother Sean said they had new evidence.
“The family would like to make a point to the British army that no-one is above the law,” he said. “We knew the original decision was wrong,” he said. “The family would like to make a point to the British army that no one is above the law.”
His brother was shot dead after he crossed the border from County Monaghan in the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland on his way back from a Gaelic football match. The McAnespite family claimed he had been the subject of constant harrassment by the security forces in the border region. His brother was shot dead after he crossed the border from County Monaghan in the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland on his way back from a Gaelic football match. The McAnespite family claimed the security forces in the border region had been harassing him constantly.
The soldier involved claimed his hands were wet and his finger slipped on the trigger of his heavy machine gun, which was fired, resulting in the death of McAnespie. The soldier claimed his hands were wet and his finger slipped on the trigger of his heavy machine gun.
But in 2008, a report by Historic Enquiries Team (the body then tasked with investigating unsolved crimes from the Troubles) said the soldier’s description of events was the “least likely version” of what happened. In 2008, a report by Historic Enquiries Team - the body tasked with investigating unsolved crimes during the Troubles - said the soldier’s description of events was the “least likely version” of what happened.
It concluded that the fatal shot had been fired from a distance of 283 metres. A year after that report the British government issued an apology and “deep regret” over McAnespie’s death. It concluded that the fatal shot had been fired from a distance of 283 metres. A year after the report the British government issued an apology and expressed its “deep regret” over McAnespie’s death.