Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
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zzr1100
Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
Michael Maguire gun range stray bullet death unlawful
Ranger Michael Maguire, 21, was hit in the head as he stood in a "safe" area at Castlemartin
Soldier shot dead 'in safe area'
A verdict of unlawful killing has been returned on a soldier killed by a stray bullet at a Pembrokeshire firing range.
Ranger Michael Maguire, 21, of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, was hit in the head as he stood in a "safe" area at Castlemartin.
The inquest in Cardiff heard he was killed by a machine gun round probably fired from 0.6 miles (1km) away.
An Army weapons expert said safety failures meant a gunner shooting at a target was not firing out to sea.
The hearing was also told people on nearby Freshwater West beach may have been in the line of fire as steps to ensure the firing was no danger to other soldiers appeared to have gone seriously wrong.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
The targets should have been to the west and not to the north. It was in a dangerous position”
Capt Gary Palmer
Infantry Battle School
Ranger Maguire, from County Cork, Ireland, was in a field 1km away from the action zone in an area where soldiers eat their lunch when he was shot and killed in May 2012.
At 6ft 7in (2m) tall, Ranger Maguire was hit in the head. He was not wearing his protective helmet and armour.
Evidence suggests he was hit by a fellow soldier who was firing a machine gun at a stationary target.
The inquest heard that other soldiers on live fire exercises were also probably shot at due to the way the target had been placed, requiring the machine gunner to fire across land rather than out to sea.
The jury also heard evidence suggesting that civilians who may have been relaxing at nearby Freshwater West beach, 1.6 miles (2.5km) to the north west, were also at risk of being hit.
Capt Gary Palmer, of the Infantry Battle School based in Brecon, Powys, who investigated the death with Dyfed-Powys Police, told the inquest the machine gunners had shot outside the safe areas specified.
He said: "The targets should have been to the west and not to the north. It was in a dangerous position."
Investigations ongoing
Ranger Maguire, who joined his regiment on 10 May 2010, had served in Afghanistan.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Mike was a dearly loved son and brother, and he is much missed by us, his family, and everyone who knew him”
Family statement
Known to his army friends as High Tower because of his height, he went to school at St Goban's College, near Bantry, in County Cork.
The family of Ranger Maguire was present at the inquest throughout and welcomed the outcome.
His father Michael Maguire senior listened in silence as the inquest verdict was read out, while Jimmy Maguire, the ranger's older brother, said the hearing had been an "emotional ordeal" for the family.
He said that despite the outcome there were still unanswered questions, such as the ability of the officer who planned and oversaw the shooting exercises.
In a statement the family said: "Mike was a dearly loved son and brother, and he is much missed by us, his family, and everyone who knew him.
"Our mother was sadly unable to be present at the inquest due to illness.
"We are pleased the inquest heard that Mike was a very well-liked member of his battalion, who served in difficult conditions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
"It makes it all the more ironic that he should lose his life on a training exercise in Wales."
After the inquest, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said investigations were still ongoing into Ranger Maguire's death.
"Our thoughts are with Ranger Michael Maguire's family and friends at this very difficult time," the spokesperson added.
"We will look very closely at the coroner's comments to ensure that we make all the necessary changes to prevent an accident of this nature happening again."
The Castlemartin Army Training Area was established in 1939 and covers 5,900 acres (2,390 hectares) in south Pembrokeshire.
Ranger Michael Maguire, 21, was hit in the head as he stood in a "safe" area at Castlemartin
Soldier shot dead 'in safe area'
A verdict of unlawful killing has been returned on a soldier killed by a stray bullet at a Pembrokeshire firing range.
Ranger Michael Maguire, 21, of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, was hit in the head as he stood in a "safe" area at Castlemartin.
The inquest in Cardiff heard he was killed by a machine gun round probably fired from 0.6 miles (1km) away.
An Army weapons expert said safety failures meant a gunner shooting at a target was not firing out to sea.
The hearing was also told people on nearby Freshwater West beach may have been in the line of fire as steps to ensure the firing was no danger to other soldiers appeared to have gone seriously wrong.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
The targets should have been to the west and not to the north. It was in a dangerous position”
Capt Gary Palmer
Infantry Battle School
Ranger Maguire, from County Cork, Ireland, was in a field 1km away from the action zone in an area where soldiers eat their lunch when he was shot and killed in May 2012.
At 6ft 7in (2m) tall, Ranger Maguire was hit in the head. He was not wearing his protective helmet and armour.
Evidence suggests he was hit by a fellow soldier who was firing a machine gun at a stationary target.
The inquest heard that other soldiers on live fire exercises were also probably shot at due to the way the target had been placed, requiring the machine gunner to fire across land rather than out to sea.
The jury also heard evidence suggesting that civilians who may have been relaxing at nearby Freshwater West beach, 1.6 miles (2.5km) to the north west, were also at risk of being hit.
Capt Gary Palmer, of the Infantry Battle School based in Brecon, Powys, who investigated the death with Dyfed-Powys Police, told the inquest the machine gunners had shot outside the safe areas specified.
He said: "The targets should have been to the west and not to the north. It was in a dangerous position."
Investigations ongoing
Ranger Maguire, who joined his regiment on 10 May 2010, had served in Afghanistan.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Mike was a dearly loved son and brother, and he is much missed by us, his family, and everyone who knew him”
Family statement
Known to his army friends as High Tower because of his height, he went to school at St Goban's College, near Bantry, in County Cork.
The family of Ranger Maguire was present at the inquest throughout and welcomed the outcome.
His father Michael Maguire senior listened in silence as the inquest verdict was read out, while Jimmy Maguire, the ranger's older brother, said the hearing had been an "emotional ordeal" for the family.
He said that despite the outcome there were still unanswered questions, such as the ability of the officer who planned and oversaw the shooting exercises.
In a statement the family said: "Mike was a dearly loved son and brother, and he is much missed by us, his family, and everyone who knew him.
"Our mother was sadly unable to be present at the inquest due to illness.
"We are pleased the inquest heard that Mike was a very well-liked member of his battalion, who served in difficult conditions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
"It makes it all the more ironic that he should lose his life on a training exercise in Wales."
After the inquest, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said investigations were still ongoing into Ranger Maguire's death.
"Our thoughts are with Ranger Michael Maguire's family and friends at this very difficult time," the spokesperson added.
"We will look very closely at the coroner's comments to ensure that we make all the necessary changes to prevent an accident of this nature happening again."
The Castlemartin Army Training Area was established in 1939 and covers 5,900 acres (2,390 hectares) in south Pembrokeshire.
Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
I listened to the overview of this on the radio yesterday. A sad affair and hopefully lessons are learned to prevent it happening in the future. Bad enough they have to go through some grim times overseas, even worse when they are killed by friendly fire at the range.
Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
Human error, sad way to go for sure.
Political Correctness is the language of lies, written by the corrupt , spoken by the inept!
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StanDeasy
Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
The jury returned a verdict of Unlawful Killing, so this is way more serious than "human error".
It means that they consider, beyond reasonable doubt, that there is sufficient evidence to charge the person(s) responsible with either Murder or Manslaughter.
SD
It means that they consider, beyond reasonable doubt, that there is sufficient evidence to charge the person(s) responsible with either Murder or Manslaughter.
SD
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shugie
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Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
Murder requires intent, and that seems to be absent at first glance.
Manslaughter would be possible, if someone has made a monumental cockup of something that is a) simple and b) critical.
Is this a civilian or forces matter though?
Manslaughter would be possible, if someone has made a monumental cockup of something that is a) simple and b) critical.
Is this a civilian or forces matter though?
Careful now/that sort of thing
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Watcher
Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
Considering what happens on rifles ranges, by their very nature, still a remarkably low accident rate. Doesn't lessen the pain of the family and of his comrades though.
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Polchraine
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Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
But who?StanDeasy wrote:The jury returned a verdict of Unlawful Killing, so this is way more serious than "human error".
It means that they consider, beyond reasonable doubt, that there is sufficient evidence to charge the person(s) responsible with either Murder or Manslaughter.
SD
The person that pulled the trigger?
The person that placed the targets?
The person who gave the order to fire?
The person that decided the lunch location was safe?
The person that told him he could remove body armour?
"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that it's difficult to discern whether or not they are genuine." - Abraham Lincoln
Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
God loves stupid people, that is why he made so many of them.
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Gaz
Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
I would say the person who drew up the exercise safety traces (assuming they were erroneous) and the person who checked those traces and signed them off as OK to use, or if the planning stage was correct, the person who placed the targets in the wrong place on the training area.Polchraine wrote:But who?StanDeasy wrote:The jury returned a verdict of Unlawful Killing, so this is way more serious than "human error".
It means that they consider, beyond reasonable doubt, that there is sufficient evidence to charge the person(s) responsible with either Murder or Manslaughter.
SD
The person that pulled the trigger?
The person that placed the targets?
The person who gave the order to fire?
The person that decided the lunch location was safe?
The person that told him he could remove body armour?
Having a public beach fall within the danger area of a field firing exercise is inexcusable.
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Watcher
Re: Really sad ... Questions need answering !!
Gaz wrote: Having a public beach fall within the danger area of a field firing exercise is inexcusable.
Although its possible that the beach might be closed to the public during firing? This is what happens at Altcar.
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