New inquiry expected into death of Army private

A new investigation is expected to be launched into the death of Army private Kevin Barrett in Lebanon seven years ago after …

A new investigation is expected to be launched into the death of Army private Kevin Barrett in Lebanon seven years ago after an independent review of the case, to be published today, found the original inquiries to have been ineffective.

The independent review was also critical of how the Defence Forces treated the dead soldier's family in the wake of his funeral through providing insufficient information to them on inquiries into Pte Barrett's death and other aspects of the case.

It also found that key potential pieces of evidence in the case, including a shell case and the sleeping quarters of the dead soldier, cannot now be located.

The review, by the outgoing chief executive of the Garda Complaints Board Seán Hurley, was ordered by Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea last year, after he apologised to the soldier's family over the State's handling of the case. The apology followed an official inquest in Donegal, which returned an open verdict on his death.

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Speaking about the report Mr O'Dea said he accepted and would act on the recommendations and conclusions contained in the report.

"Important lessons have been learnt for the future and errors that have occurred in the handling of this tragic case, outlined by Mr Hurley, must never be repeated," he said.

Pte Barrett was found dead on February 18th, 1999, from a single gunshot wound to the head from his own rifle.

The incident occurred in his billet, which was also occupied by two other soldiers at the time, one of whom said he was asleep and the other who was talking to Pte Barrett at the time, but did not see the shooting and had poor recollection about the events in general.

The original military police investigation report into the incident said it was likely to have been the result of an accident, with the consumption of alcohol having been a possible factor, and that no other person was likely to have been involved.

However, the Army sergeant who carried out the original military investigation into the incident said it was still "inconclusive" due to the lack of proper recall by the other soldier who was awake. A number of other unexplained issues regarding the presence of loaded firearms and three holes in the soldier's billet were also of concern, he said.

A subsequent board of inquiry by the Irish Defence Forces contingent in the Lebanon concluded that Pte Barrett's death was likely to have been accidental, with the same conclusion being found by another inquiry by the Unifil headquarters board of inquiry.

Mr Hurley's report, however, found that the later two inquiries were based on evidence gathered in the first, which was incomplete, and which meant that the inquiries were ineffective, and that the family received no copies of any of these reports..

He recommended that the Department of Defence should consider establishing a new board of inquiry and that the possible assistance of the Garda in any new inquiry should also be considered.

Mr Hurley's report also found that Pte Barrett's remains were in a "wholly unacceptable and shocking condition" when they were repatriated to Ireland, although the Defence Forces are not blamed for this.

He also criticised how the family was dealt with during the whole process.