Former British soldier David Holden has been convicted of manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in 1988.
Mr McAnespie died from a shot fired from a ‘general purpose machine gun’ mounted in an Army sangar at a permanent vehicle checkpoint (VCP) on the Monaghan Road in Aughnaloy on Sunday, February 21st, 1988.
52 year old David Holden was stationed in Northern Ireland at the time of the shooting.
The 23-year-old was on his way to a GAA match when the fatal bullet ricocheted off the road and struck him in the back before exiting via the front of his chest. He died at the scene.
Trial judge Mr Justice O'Hara said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Holden was guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.
He added that Holden should have appreciated from the moment he pulled the trigger the consequences of his actions.
