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| British soldier Michael Maguire was unlawfully killed, inquest rules | British soldier Michael Maguire was unlawfully killed, inquest rules |
| (25 days later) | |
| A soldier was unlawfully killed when he was hit in the head by a machine-gun bullet as he rested in a supposedly safe area next to a firing range, an inquest jury has ruled. | A soldier was unlawfully killed when he was hit in the head by a machine-gun bullet as he rested in a supposedly safe area next to a firing range, an inquest jury has ruled. |
| Ranger Michael Maguire, 21, was shot dead after removing his armour and helmet at the range in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, during a live-firing exercise in May last year. | Ranger Michael Maguire, 21, was shot dead after removing his armour and helmet at the range in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, during a live-firing exercise in May last year. |
| The jury heard that more bullets may have whistled over the heads of Maguire's friends as they tried to save his life and was told the lives of civilians may have been put at danger when a beach was sprayed with fire. | The jury heard that more bullets may have whistled over the heads of Maguire's friends as they tried to save his life and was told the lives of civilians may have been put at danger when a beach was sprayed with fire. |
| It is believed the incident may have been caused by a badly aligned target, meaning the machine gunner was shooting inland rather than out to sea. | It is believed the incident may have been caused by a badly aligned target, meaning the machine gunner was shooting inland rather than out to sea. |
| After the inquest in Cardiff, Maguire's family said it was ironic he had survived a tour of Afghanistan only to be killed while training in the UK. They strongly criticised some of those involved in the incident who had stayed silent. Maguire's brother, Jimmy, said: "We are disappointed that key personnel involved decided to rely on their right not to answer questions which were potentially self-incriminating rather than give the inquest a full and true account of what happened. | After the inquest in Cardiff, Maguire's family said it was ironic he had survived a tour of Afghanistan only to be killed while training in the UK. They strongly criticised some of those involved in the incident who had stayed silent. Maguire's brother, Jimmy, said: "We are disappointed that key personnel involved decided to rely on their right not to answer questions which were potentially self-incriminating rather than give the inquest a full and true account of what happened. |
| "That has left us with unanswered questions, in particular about the actions of the people responsible for the planning of and safety on the exercise. Soldiers should not be killed in training and we hope that lessons are learned army-wide to ensure that another incident like this does not occur." | "That has left us with unanswered questions, in particular about the actions of the people responsible for the planning of and safety on the exercise. Soldiers should not be killed in training and we hope that lessons are learned army-wide to ensure that another incident like this does not occur." |
| He added that the family hoped that other ongoing investigations would fill in gaps in the evidence. A Health and Safety Executive inquiry and a military special investigation branch probe are both still looking into Maguire's death. | He added that the family hoped that other ongoing investigations would fill in gaps in the evidence. A Health and Safety Executive inquiry and a military special investigation branch probe are both still looking into Maguire's death. |
| The family's lawyer, Alison Millar, said: "We feel this inquest has raised issues about the chain of command and the systems in place on army firing ranges. We are now considering further legal options with the family." | The family's lawyer, Alison Millar, said: "We feel this inquest has raised issues about the chain of command and the systems in place on army firing ranges. We are now considering further legal options with the family." |
| Maguire, who was 6ft 7in tall and nicknamed High Tower, was standing in a supposedly safe area at the Castlemartin ranges in May last year as he and fellow members of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment prepared for their second deployment to Afghanistan. | Maguire, who was 6ft 7in tall and nicknamed High Tower, was standing in a supposedly safe area at the Castlemartin ranges in May last year as he and fellow members of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment prepared for their second deployment to Afghanistan. |
| Corporal Angus Neill said he heard a "crack and a whizz" that he knew from experience were live rounds. He said he heard a comrade shout "man down" and went to help Maguire. Neill said his focus was on helping his friend but that it was possible bullets continued to pass overhead. | Corporal Angus Neill said he heard a "crack and a whizz" that he knew from experience were live rounds. He said he heard a comrade shout "man down" and went to help Maguire. Neill said his focus was on helping his friend but that it was possible bullets continued to pass overhead. |
| The inquest was told that an officer involved in the running of the exercise, Lieutenant Jonathan Price, had been recommended for "supervision" after struggling to pass the live-fire tactical training course. | The inquest was told that an officer involved in the running of the exercise, Lieutenant Jonathan Price, had been recommended for "supervision" after struggling to pass the live-fire tactical training course. |
| A safety supervisor on the range, Corporal Mark McMahon, refused to answer questions about what had happened because of possible further legal proceedings. | A safety supervisor on the range, Corporal Mark McMahon, refused to answer questions about what had happened because of possible further legal proceedings. |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We will ensure that we make all the necessary changes to prevent an accident of this nature happening again. There are still ongoing investigations so it is not appropriate for us to comment further." | A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "We will ensure that we make all the necessary changes to prevent an accident of this nature happening again. There are still ongoing investigations so it is not appropriate for us to comment further." |
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