Family welcome statement on death
The family of Aidan McAnespie shot dead at an Army checkpoint in 1988 have welcomed a statement from the goverment expressing its regret at the killing.
In recent days our family held a meeting with Secretary of State Shaun Woodward MP at Hillsborough.
We were accompanied at the meeting by our MP, Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail Senator Mary White and Paul O’Connor of the Pat Finucane Centre.
During this meeting the secretary of state told the family that he intended to issue a statement which we understand the NIO has released this morning.
We appreciate the fact that Shaun Woodward took the time to read the HET report into Aidan’s killing and to listen to his family.
We believe that this meeting was very important for both the family and the British Government.
It was very emotional for all concerned and allowed Aidan’s elderly parents, John and Liz, to explain the extensive harassment that Aidan had been subjected to in the lead-up to his death and the devastating effect of his loss on his family, friends and community.
The circumstances of the shooting and the findings of the HET report were discussed.
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.
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.
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.
Our only regret at this stage is that Elish was not with us last week. She carried the torch for her brother, Aidan, for many years and her spirit is still with us.
