Northern Ireland: McAnespie verdict must be death knell for 'wholly discredited' Troubles Bill

‘This must not be the last Troubles trial’ - Grainne Teggart

‘Not a day passes when we don’t miss Aidan. This case has shown justice is possible after all these years and every victim must have truth and justice’ - Sean McAnespie

Responding to today’s guilty verdict in the trial of a former British soldier for the 1988 manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie, Amnesty International has said this must be the death knell for the Government’s now “wholly discredited” Troubles Bill.

Former Grenadier Guardsman, David Jonathan Holden (53), was today found guilty of the manslaughter of Aidan Martin McAnespie on 21 February 1988. McAnespie was 23 when he was shot in the back on his way to a Gaelic football match.

The soldier previously admitted to the Historical Enquiries Team to firing the fatal shot but claimed his hands were wet and his finger slipped on the trigger as he held his machine gun. The judge told the court that Holden had given a “deliberately false account” of what happened.

McAnespie’s family had relentlessly fought for justice for nearly 35 years, and they welcomed the verdict at the court earlier today.

The verdict comes as the Government is pushing through its highly controversial and widely opposed Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill which will permanently deny the prospect of justice to other victims of the Troubles. 

Speaking from the court this morning, Grainne Teggart, Deputy Director for Northern Ireland at Amnesty International UK, said:

“Today’s verdict must be the death knell for the Government’s now wholly discredited Troubles Bill.

“This verdict is a direct counter to the Government’s entire justification for this legislation and proves that justice delayed needn’t be justice denied.

“This must not be the last Troubles trial. The McAnespie family have waited and fought for more than three torturous decades to have their day in court and to secure justice for Aidan, but there are hundreds of other families who deserve the same access to justice. 

“If the Government pushes ahead with the Troubles Bill, it will not only be a cruel betrayal of the families who have waited so long but would send a very dangerous message to regimes around the world who may want to replicate legislation which sets their armed forces above the law.” 

Sean McAnespie, brother of Aidan McAnespie, said:

“Finally, we have justice for Aidan and our family after a long 34 years. Today has proven that the version of events given to the British army and by David Holden has been exposed as lies. Our family knew all along these were lies and we never gave up hope of getting here. Not a day passes when we don’t miss Aidan. Other victims must also have the same chance for closure. This case has shown justice is possible after all these years and every victim must have truth and justice.”

Darragh Mackin, solicitor for the family, said:

“For 34 years Mr Holden has peddled a lie. Today’s judgment found his evidence entirely unconvincing and a deliberately false account. Despite these vehement efforts, the family have today achieved justice for the killing of Aidan.”