Aidan McAnespie

Aidan McAnespie (1965–21 February 1988) was an Irish Catholic who was killed by a British soldier with a bullet from a heavy machine-gun at Aughnacloy border checkpoint in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland during the Troubles.^[1]

Death

McAnespie, a member of Aghaloo Gaelic football club, was travelling to a match when he was killed by a gunshot wound to the back. He had just walked past a British Army checkpoint.^[2][3] The Army said that McAnespie had been hit when the weapon had discharged accidentally as a soldier was moving the gun with wet hands. Forensic evidence suggested that the fatal shot was one of three that had ricocheted off the road two metres behind McAnespie.^[4][5] Charges were initially brought against Grenadier Guard Jonathan Holden for manslaughter but were dropped prior to prosecution.^[3] He was fined for negligent discharge of the weapon and in 1990 was given a medical discharge.^[6]

McAnespie was an election worker for Sinn Féin, but both the Provisional Irish Republican Army and his priest said that he was not involved in paramilitary activity.^[7] He had previously said that he had been threatened by the security forces,^[8] and, according to his sister, soldiers had threatened to kill him on several occasions.^[9] McAnespie's family allege a cover-up by the United Kingdom and question the likelihood of accidental discharge killing their son from a distance of 300 metres.^[10] His father, in an article printed in the Observer Magazine, said that a soldier had stopped him some fifteen months before the shooting and told him I've a bullet here in the gun for your son Aidan ^[6]

Tablet erected at spot where McAnespie was killed.

Investigations

The day after the killing, the Irish Government appointed Garda Deputy Commissioner Eugene Crowley to investigate the incident.^[8] The results of the investigation were received by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Gerry Collins on 8 April 1988, but have never been published.^[11][12] A Royal Ulster Constabulary investigation also took place which concluded that the killing was accidental.^[13]

In June 2008, the Police Service of Northern Ireland Historical Enquiries Team published its findings on the case. The report called the soldier's explanation for the killing the "least likely version" of what happened. The Ministry of Defence said it had co-operated with the inquiry and understood that this did not uncover any new evidence that would warrant further investigation.^[5] In October 2008, a Police Service of Northern Ireland investigation concluded that Jonathan Holden's gun required 9 lbs of pressure to pull the trigger, and that the soldier's account of the events was highly unlikely. It described the chances of this occurring, combined with hitting McAnespie by accident as, "so remote as to be virtually disregarded".^[14]

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward expressed "deep regret" at the incident in a statement made in July 2009, which was welcomed by McAnespie's family.^[4]

Tributes

The largest Gaelic football club in Boston, Massachusetts is named in his memory.^[15] Aghaloo O'Neills Gaelic Athletic Association club hosted a weekend of Gaelic football and cultural events to mark the 20th anniversary of his death.^[16]

References