British army `not liable' for shooting

The British army denied liability yesterday for the shooting by a soldier of a mourner at the funeral of the man who carried …

The British army denied liability yesterday for the shooting by a soldier of a mourner at the funeral of the man who carried out the Shankill bombing.

The High Court in Belfast was told the Ministry of Defence was claiming the soldier was acting outside the course of his employment when he wounded Mr Edward Copeland at Ardoyne in 1993.

Mr Copeland (28) was shot outside the home of Thomas Begley, who died when an IRA bomb exploded at Frizell's fish shop on October 23rd, 1993. Nine innocent people also died.

Trooper Andrew Clarke, who opened fire on a group of mourners from a passing LandRover, was jailed for 10 years for attempted murder.

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The defence adopted by the MoD's lawyers had not been used before and legal observers said it would probably be tested all the way to the House of Lords, irrespective of which side wins.

The hearing continues today.