This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk-news/2013/jul/10/danny-nightingale-sas-mod-court-martial

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Profile: ex-SAS soldier Danny Nightingale Profile: ex-SAS soldier Danny Nightingale
(2 months later)
Sergeant Danny Nightingale emerged from the hearings as a soldier dedicated to the SAS and, away from the battlefield, a gentle and thoughtful family man.Sergeant Danny Nightingale emerged from the hearings as a soldier dedicated to the SAS and, away from the battlefield, a gentle and thoughtful family man.
Nightingale joined the army in 1995 and the SAS in 2001. He has seen active service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Libya as well as Afghanistan and Iraq.Nightingale joined the army in 1995 and the SAS in 2001. He has seen active service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Lebanon, Turkey, Syria and Libya as well as Afghanistan and Iraq.
Like many in the SAS he has a wide range of skills. He is inevitably described as a sniper but his specialist skills also include driving, den-making and surveillance.Like many in the SAS he has a wide range of skills. He is inevitably described as a sniper but his specialist skills also include driving, den-making and surveillance.
When he realised there was a shortage of combat medics in the regiment, he became an expert in that area and helped invent a new type of chest wound dressing – known as the Nightingale Dressing – that is now used by the military across the globe and by ambulance crews in the UK and US.When he realised there was a shortage of combat medics in the regiment, he became an expert in that area and helped invent a new type of chest wound dressing – known as the Nightingale Dressing – that is now used by the military across the globe and by ambulance crews in the UK and US.
In 2007, Nightingale was posted to Iraq to help combat suicide attacks on allied forces. He returned to the UK as part of a repatriation party after two close friends died in a helicopter crash.In 2007, Nightingale was posted to Iraq to help combat suicide attacks on allied forces. He returned to the UK as part of a repatriation party after two close friends died in a helicopter crash.
Nightingale witnessed the accident, which was later blamed by a British coroner on a combination of pilot error and "indefensible procedural and maintenance errors" by the Ministry of Defence.Nightingale witnessed the accident, which was later blamed by a British coroner on a combination of pilot error and "indefensible procedural and maintenance errors" by the Ministry of Defence.
In 2009, he took part in an endurance event in the Amazon to raise money for injured comrades. He became seriously ill, spent three days in a coma and almost died.In 2009, he took part in an endurance event in the Amazon to raise money for injured comrades. He became seriously ill, spent three days in a coma and almost died.
But by January 2010, he was passed fit to return to full duty. He was made sniper co-ordinator of a fast-reaction counter-terrorism team, ready to be airborne within 30 minutes to tackle a Mumbai-style terrorist attack on British soil.But by January 2010, he was passed fit to return to full duty. He was made sniper co-ordinator of a fast-reaction counter-terrorism team, ready to be airborne within 30 minutes to tackle a Mumbai-style terrorist attack on British soil.
During his trial at Bulford military centre in Wiltshire, a picture emerged of Nightingale and his best friend, Soldier N, living a double life in a suburban street. Nightingale had the back bedroom, N the front. They kept the house neat and tidy and took turns to mow the lawn and clean the windows. All the time they were ready to be helicoptered into a life-or-death situation.During his trial at Bulford military centre in Wiltshire, a picture emerged of Nightingale and his best friend, Soldier N, living a double life in a suburban street. Nightingale had the back bedroom, N the front. They kept the house neat and tidy and took turns to mow the lawn and clean the windows. All the time they were ready to be helicoptered into a life-or-death situation.
N, who has admitted possessing a pistol and ammunition, came over as more cagey than Nightingale. It was his former wife who told police there were weapons at the house, after they split acrimoniously.N, who has admitted possessing a pistol and ammunition, came over as more cagey than Nightingale. It was his former wife who told police there were weapons at the house, after they split acrimoniously.
He told the court he had fired "many pistols" in his time and had been on more tours than he could remember. He refused to say which country he was in when he was given the Glock pistol found in his room (it was Iraq in 2003). Asked to whom the pistol had belonged, he first said that he could not pronounce his name – then insisted: "His name escapes me."He told the court he had fired "many pistols" in his time and had been on more tours than he could remember. He refused to say which country he was in when he was given the Glock pistol found in his room (it was Iraq in 2003). Asked to whom the pistol had belonged, he first said that he could not pronounce his name – then insisted: "His name escapes me."
He claimed the acquisition of weapons happened all the time: "You go on operations, you want to bring back a trophy, as our grandfathers did in the war. To bring back a trophy is regarded as semi-OK even though it's illegal."He claimed the acquisition of weapons happened all the time: "You go on operations, you want to bring back a trophy, as our grandfathers did in the war. To bring back a trophy is regarded as semi-OK even though it's illegal."
Questioned over what sort of weapons were brought back, Soldier N replied: "You only have to look at most sergeants' messes … AK47s, Dragunovs [sniper rifles]. I'm a sniper and I would love to bring back a Dragunov as a centrepiece."Questioned over what sort of weapons were brought back, Soldier N replied: "You only have to look at most sergeants' messes … AK47s, Dragunovs [sniper rifles]. I'm a sniper and I would love to bring back a Dragunov as a centrepiece."
Nightingale had one blot on his copybook before the events that led to his court martial. In the late 1990s while serving in Northern Ireland, various ammunition, a thunderflash (a flare-like device that emits a light flash with a loud bang) and a smoke grenade were found in his quarters. He was given a ticking off and fined £1,000.Nightingale had one blot on his copybook before the events that led to his court martial. In the late 1990s while serving in Northern Ireland, various ammunition, a thunderflash (a flare-like device that emits a light flash with a loud bang) and a smoke grenade were found in his quarters. He was given a ticking off and fined £1,000.
Former SAS soldiers often go on to have lucrative careers in the private security industry after they have retired. Nightingale's recent history – and now his conviction – make that less likely. During one hearing it was suggested that his plans to join his daughters' school governing body had been wrecked, as had his plans to launch a charity.Former SAS soldiers often go on to have lucrative careers in the private security industry after they have retired. Nightingale's recent history – and now his conviction – make that less likely. During one hearing it was suggested that his plans to join his daughters' school governing body had been wrecked, as had his plans to launch a charity.
The family faces an uncertain financial future. Nightingale was keen to pay for his own defence rather than depend on public funds but that means that he and his wife have had to use their savings and rely on relatives and public donations to meet their legal bills of around £150,000. They may still have to sell their house to make up the deficit.The family faces an uncertain financial future. Nightingale was keen to pay for his own defence rather than depend on public funds but that means that he and his wife have had to use their savings and rely on relatives and public donations to meet their legal bills of around £150,000. They may still have to sell their house to make up the deficit.
Sally Nightingale said: "This has been going on 22 months. We've had our lives on hold waiting for this to be sorted out. It's been incredibly stressful not just for me and Danny but for our children, parents, siblings. Thankfully we've stayed strong. We've learned so much about Danny's health problems. The only positive thing is that we're getting help for that."Sally Nightingale said: "This has been going on 22 months. We've had our lives on hold waiting for this to be sorted out. It's been incredibly stressful not just for me and Danny but for our children, parents, siblings. Thankfully we've stayed strong. We've learned so much about Danny's health problems. The only positive thing is that we're getting help for that."
At the court martial at Bulford in Wiltshire, Nightingale was asked about his medical discharge from the army – whether or not his account of his memory loss regarding the pistol is correct, it is accepted he is ill. Nightingale's voice shook as he said: "I am no longer employable in a role."At the court martial at Bulford in Wiltshire, Nightingale was asked about his medical discharge from the army – whether or not his account of his memory loss regarding the pistol is correct, it is accepted he is ill. Nightingale's voice shook as he said: "I am no longer employable in a role."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.