Soldiers ignore call to appear at inquest into death of INLA man
Belfast Telegraph
Friday 30, May 2008
An inquest into the death of a former INLA member who died from multiple injuries after he was struck by an Army vehicle during rioting in Londonderry almost 12 years ago, was told that two key military witnesses to the incident have ignored legal requests for them to come forward to give evidence.
Daniel Moran, who was a private in the 1st Battalion The Highlanders, was the driver of the Saxon personnel carrier which struck Dermot McShane (36) during disturbances in Little James Street on July 13, 1996.
Coroner Brian Sherrard was told Mr Moran was the only soldier in the Saxon and had driven the vehicle against Army procedures. Mr Sherrard said he had written a letter to police in the jurisdiction where Mr Moran lives asking them to deliver it to him. The police handed the letter to Mr Moran, but so far he has failed to respond.
The other military witness who has not heeded the ruling is Simon Crane. He was a captain in the 1st Battalion The Highlanders and was the second most senior Army officer deployed in Derry on the night Mr McShane was killed.
The Coroner said the former captain had not responded to his summons to attend the inquest, so he has issued a subpoena which will be served on him through the High Court.
The inquest continues.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands