THE BRITISH government has formally expressed “deep regret” over the fatal shooting of a Co Tyrone man 21 years ago.
Aidan McAnespie (23) was killed after three shots were discharged from a British army watchtower as he walked to Aughnacloy’s GAA grounds for a football match in February 1988.
The soldier involved in the incident claimed the shooting was an accident caused in part by his having wet hands as he handled a heavy machine gun at the Border checkpoint.
A subsequent investigation carried out by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Historical Enquiries Team (Het), which is examining all unsolved killings during the Troubles, claimed the soldier’s version of events is “considered to be the least likely” of possible explanations.
Mr McAnespie’s family believes he was a marked man who was repeatedly harassed by British troops and that the fatal shot was fired deliberately either to kill or scare him.
Following a meeting with the family at Hillsborough last week, Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward considered the PSNI team’s report and issued a statement yesterday.
“On behalf of the British government, the Northern Ireland secretary and the defence secretary recognise the pain and suffering of the McAnespie family. It is a matter of deep regret that Aidan was killed by a bullet fired by a soldier which ricocheted from the road.”
He continued: “It is not for the government either to accept or comment on specific Het findings. However, in overall terms, the government endorses its work and has confidence in the Het’s professionalism and thoroughness.
“Since part of the objectives of the Het is to bring solace and comfort to families and loved ones, we hope this will be the case for Aidan’s family.”
It is believed to be the first time a Northern Secretary in conjunction with the British defence secretary have signed a statement of regret about a controversial killing in Northern Ireland.
Úna McCabe, a niece of Mr McAnespie, said yesterday: “The meeting with Shaun Woodward is the acknowledgment at official level that was missing.” Her only regret was that her mother, Elish, a sister of the victim, who had campaigned for the truth since 1988, had not lived to witness the British government statement.
Ms McCabe said there was no prospect of a successful prosecution in the case and insisted that the family simply wanted the truth. She said the statement brought closure to the case insofar as the British government was concerned.
However, she added that the Irish Government should at least allow the family sight of the Crowley report into the killing carried out by a former senior Garda officer and completed the year after the killing.
The Government is claiming assurances of confidentiality are blocking publication of that report’s findings.
The Pat Finucane Centre in Derry, which has helped the family in the case, along with Fianna Fáil senator Mary White, the SDLP, Sinn Féin and the Commission for Victims and Survivors, have welcomed publication of the British government statement.
Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew said the British government needed “to reflect long and hard about this case”.
“It is a disgrace that it has taken 20 years of campaigning to get the British government to this point . . . This policy of concealment and cover-up has to end.”
SDLP Assembly member Alex Attwood agreed, adding: “There is a clear danger that there are elements in state organisations and terror organisations who refuse to tell the truth and acknowledge their pasts. This cannot be tolerated.”
Mike Nesbitt, chairman of the Commission for Victims and Survivors, said: “Two senior British government ministers acknowledging the horrendous consequences of what happened, and they still retain their belief that Aidan was murdered without feeling the need to call for a prosecution.”
However DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds insisted the British army had nothing to apologise for.
“As far as the DUP is concerned, the army and the security forces generally have no apology to make as organisations for what they did in Northern Ireland. On the contrary, we believe the army deserves praise for their actions in fighting terrorism.”