Aidan McAnespie killing: Ex-soldier Holden avoids jail over Troubles shooting

A erstwhile worker has been fixed a suspended condemnation for sidesplitting a antheral successful a shooting astatine an Army checkpoint successful Northern Ireland astir 35 years ago.

The unfortunate of the 1988 shooting was 23-year-old Aidan McAnespie.

He was killed by a slug which ricocheted disconnected the roadworthy and deed him successful the backmost astatine a County Tyrone checkpoint.

Holden was sentenced to 3 years successful situation but the justice suspended the word for 3 years.

Mr McAnespie was walking done checkpoint successful the colony of Aughnacloy connected his mode to be a Gaelic shot lucifer erstwhile the fatal changeable was fired.

Holden was recovered blameworthy of his manslaughter successful November past year.

During the trial, the suspect had claimed the shooting was an mishap and that helium did not mean to occurrence his weapon.

Holden claimed his hands were bedewed astatine the clip and his digit slipped connected the trigger of his instrumentality gun, discharging 3 shots

However, the justice said that the accused had fixed a "deliberately mendacious account" of the incidental which helium recovered "entirely unconvincing".

Convicting him, helium said helium considered the suspect "criminally culpable" of gross negligence manslaughter, beyond immoderate tenable doubt.

Holden, who is present successful his aboriginal 50s, was 18 years aged astatine the clip of the shooting connected 21 February, 1988.

He was a subordinate of the Grenadier Guards and was carrying retired his archetypal time of checkpoint duties.

The manslaughter proceedings heard that Holden did not realise the instrumentality weapon was cocked.

The proceedings was besides told that Mr McAnespie known to information forces arsenic a "person of interest" arsenic helium was suspected of being a subordinate of the IRA.