The British government today expressed its "deep regret" over the death of a man shot by a soldier at a border crossing in Co Tyrone at the height of the Troubles.
Aidan McAnespie (24), was shot as he walked through a border checkpoint at Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, in 1988.
The soldier claimed he had fired the shot accidentally, but this was always rejected by the family and last year was described as the “least likely version” of what happened by the police Historical Enquiries Team (HET).
The Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has issued a statement which said: “I have had the privilege of meeting with Aidan’s family having now had the opportunity of reading the HET report following their request that I should see it.
“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.”
Mr McAnespie was shot as he crossed the border to attend a Gaelic football match, but he had complained of regular harassment by security forces at the military checkpoint where soldiers accused him of being a republican suspect.
The HET reopened the case and questioned the army’s version of events, that the soldier’s hands were wet and he had accidentally fired the fatal shot. The HET noted that the shot was fired from a distance of 300 metres and ricocheted off the ground two metres behind the dead man - a finding which the family said endorsed their view of events.
Today Mr McAnespie’s niece Una McCabe said her family had met the Secretary of State within the last week.
“We explained to the Secretary of State that the version of events offered by the army, that a bullet ricocheted off the ground and then killed Aidan because a soldier had wet hands and was cleaning a gun which accidentally discharged, was the ‘least likely’ explanation according to the HET report,” she said.
“Aidan was fatally wounded by a ricochet bullet. In respect of why a bullet should strike the ground less that two metres behind Aidan at 283.4 metres range, the HET report is clear that ‘the chances of it being un-aimed or random seem so remote in the circumstances that they can be virtually disregarded’.
“Given the findings of the HET report we find it highly significant and positive that the Minister of Defence has co-signed this public statement along with the Northern Ireland Secretary.
“For years we have fought for truth and acknowledgement," she said. “The HET report, in our view, represents the closest that we as a family have got to the truth of what occurred that day. The meeting with Shaun Woodward is the acknowledgement at official level that was missing.”
Mr Woodward added: “It is not for the Government either to accept or comment on the 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.”