Aidan McAnespie

Aidan McAnespie (1965–21 February, 1988) was an Irish Catholic who was killed in contested circumstances by a bullet from a heavy machine-gun held by a soldier at Aughnacloy border checkpoint in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland during "The Troubles". [cite news | last = Thornton| first = Chris| title = Border posts next to go | work = Belfast Telegraph| publisher = Independent News and Media| date = 1998-09-30| url = http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article827923.ece | accessdate = 2007-09-29 ]

McAnespie, a member of Aghaloo gaelic football club, was travelling to a match when he was killed. [cite news| last = Kelly | first = Ned | title = Groundswell against GAA rule change| work = An Phoblacht| publisher = IRLNet/Sinn Féin| date = 1998-04-30
url = http://republican-news.org/archive/1998/April30/30gaa.html| accessdate = 2007-09-29 ] He had previously claimed that he had been threatened by the security forces.cite book| last = Bell| first = Robert| coauthors = Robert Johnstone, Robin Wilson| title = Troubled Times: Fortnight Magazine and the Troubles in Northern Ireland 1970 - 1991| publisher = The Blackstaff Press| date = 1991| location = Belfast| pages = 210| isbn = 0-85640-462-4 ] According to his sister, British soldiers had threatened to kill him on several occasions. cite conference| title = Submission to The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, Dublin Castle| publisher = The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation| date = April 1995| location = Dublin| url = http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/~smacsuib/truth.txt| ] The army claimed McAnespie had been hit by a ricochet when the weapon had discharged accidentally as the soldier was moving the gun with wet hands. Charges were initially brought against Grenadier Guard Jonathan Holden for manslaughter but were dropped prior to prosecution.cite web| title = Mortas Cinnagh
work = Labor Comment Editorial| publisher = Athol Books| date = May 2004| url = http://www.atholbooks.org/archives/pastlabcom/labcommay04.php| format = HTML| accessdate = 2007-09-29 ] He was fined for negligent discharge of the weapon and in 1990 was given a medical discharge.cite book| last = McKittrick| first = David| title = Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children Who Died Through the Northern Ireland Troubles| publisher = Mainstream Publishing| date = 2007| isbn = 1-84018-504-1]

The day after the killing, the Irish Government appointed Garda Deputy Commissioner Eugene Crowley to investigate the incident. The results of the investigation were received by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Gerard Collins on 8 April 1988, but have never been published. [cite journal| last = The Houses of the Oireachtas| title = Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Death of Aidan McAnespie| journal = Dáil Éireann Parliamentary Debates| volume = 379| date = 1988-04-19| url = http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0379/D.0379.198804190012.html| accessdate = 2007-09-29 ] [cite news | last = MacDonncha| first = Michael| title = Dublin/Monaghan and Ludlow inquiries must be public: Report of the Victims Commission | work = An Phoblacht| publisher = IRLNet/Sinn Féin| date = 1999-08-12| url = http://republican-news.org/archive/1999/August12/12dubm.html| accessdate = 2007-09-29 ] A Royal Ulster Constabulary investigation also took place which concluded that the killing was accidental. [cite journal| last = House of Commons| title = Oral Answers to Questions: Northern Ireland| journal = Hansard (the Official Report)| volume = 502| date = 1989-07-20| url = http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm198889/cmhansrd/1989-07-20/Orals-1.html| accessdate = 2007-09-29 ]

McAnespie's family allege a cover-up by the British state, as they believe that an accidental discharge from 300 metres away seems highly unlikely.cite book| last = Murray| first = Raymond| title = State Violence: Northern Ireland 1969-1997
publisher = Mercier Press| date = 1998| location = Cork| url = http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/violence/murray.htm| isbn = 1 85635 235 8] His father in an article printed in the "Observer Magazine" - 13 March 1994 - said that a soldier had stopped him some fifteen months before the shooting and told him "I've a bullet here in the gun for your son Aidan"

The Catholic Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Tomas Ó Fiaich and Dr. Mick Loftus, the President of the Gaelic Athletic Association, have both described McAnespie's death as murder.

A song, "Aidan McAnespie", dedicated to his memory, has been sung by soccer fans at Celtic Park, the home of Scottish club Celtic F.C.. [cite web| last = Cunningham| first = Gerry| title = Aidan McAnespie Song Lyrics
work = Triskelle| url = http://www.triskelle.eu/lyrics/aidenmcanespie.php?index=080.010.020.010| format = HTML| accessdate = 2007-09-29 ] [cite web| last = Smith| first = Kevin| title = A look at BBC's programme, "Scotland's Secret Shame."| work = Mon the Hoops: Unofficial Fan Forum| date = 2005-03-01| url = http://www.celtic-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=208643| format = HTML| accessdate = 2007-09-29 ] The largest Gaelic football club in Boston, Massachusetts is named in his memory. [cite web| last =| first =| title = Aidan McAnespie G.F.C. Boston| work =| url = http://www.aidanmcanespiegfcboston.com/
format = HTML| accessdate = 2007-09-29 ]

In February 2008, Aghaloo O'Neills Gaelic Athletic Association club hosted a weekend of Gaelic football and cultural events to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Aidan McAnespie who was shot by a British soldier as he walked to attend a game at the club grounds on February 21, 1988. [cite web | title= Family of Aidan McAnespie continue their quest for truth | work=Ulster Herald (21 February 2008) | url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/299844007726054.php | accessdate=2008-06-24]

Historical Enquiries Team Investigation

In June 2008, the Police Service of Northern Ireland Historical Enquiries Team published its findings on the case in a report. In the fatal shooting the soldier claimed that his hands were wet, causing him to accidentally fire the machine-gun when he was moving inside a sanger. The report called this the "least likely version" of what happened. Forensic evidence suggested the fatal shot ricocheted off the road. The soldier was charged with manslaughter, but this was later withdrawn. The Ministry of Defence said it had co-operated with the inquiry and understood that this did not uncover any new evidence that would warrant further investigation. [cite web | title= Checkpoint death report welcomed | work=BBC News NI (24 June 2008 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7471825.stm | accessdate=2008-06-24]

References