Coroner to consider lifting Anonymity Order on Soldier '˜B'

The move came on the sixth day of the hearing into the death of Manus Deery at Derry’s Coroner Court.

The name of the soldier who fired the fatal shot on May 19, 1972 was revealed for the first day of the Inquest on Monday, October 17. The deceased ex-soldier as named as William Glasgow who was previously only ever referred to as Soldier ‘A’

However, acting on instructions from the family of Manus Deery, Senior Counsel, Fiona Doherty, has submitted an application to have the name of Soldier ‘B’ also revealed in open court.

Last week, Soldier ‘B’ gave evidence to the court, screened from the public and the Press, but was visible to members of the Deery family, the Coroner Lord Justice Adrian Colton and legal representatives in the case.

Miss Doherty in addressing Lord Justice Colton, said she was asking for the ruling made in relation to Soldier B’s anonymity to be revised on the basis that it had originally been granted because an increased risk to his personal security existed whilst he was in Northern Ireland to give evidence.

“This period of anonymity was to assist him for a short period of time,” she said.

Miss Doherty also contended that since Soldier ‘B’ had now left N. Ireland and was not required to return, an increased risk to his security had since passed.

Making a distinction between a visual identification of Soldier ‘B’ and naming him, Miss Doherty said:”As far as the public is concerned, he was screened and will remain screened.”

Senior Counsel for the Ministry of Defence and the PSNI at the Inquest, Mr Martin Wolfe, was asked by Lord Justice Colton if he had sought any instruction from Soldier ‘B’ in relation to lifting the Anonymity Order on him.

Mr. Wolfe said that he had not had the opportunity to do so because of the lateness of the application to remove the Order.

He said: “I think Counsel is playing fast and loose with the fairness of these proceedings. Granting anonymity undoubtedly had a calming effect on him coming to Northern Ireland to give his evidence. To take that from him smacks of a certain unfairness.

“As we move into this legacy process this will impact on the confidence of soldiers in coming to Northern Ireland.”

Mr. Wolfe also stated that another objection he had to the Anonymity Order being rescinded was because of recent inaccurate reporting that attributed Soldier ‘B’ having ordered Soldier ‘A’ to fire the fatal single round.

“Things have, therefore, changed. He was granted anonymity and screening but things have changed now because of inaccurate reporting. So I would oppose this application.”

Mr. Gerry McAlinden, senior counsel for the Coroners’ Service,also opposed the application to have anonymous status removed from Soldier ‘B.’

He said that any decision to revoke anonymity could be made on an up to date assessment.

“Risk assessment was carried out before he (Soldier ‘B’) gave evidence and before anyone gave evidence. Mr. Wolfe has correctly highlighted the impression given of Soldier B’s involvement in recent reporting,” he continued.

Mr McAlinden also contended that the application to revoke anonymity was, therefore, inappropriate and “unfortunately made.”

Responding to Mr, McAlinden’s comments, Miss Doherty said she was “absolutely astonished” and that the application was not inappropriate but, in fact, “totally appropriate” given that Soldier ‘B’ was compelled to attend the Inquest via being served with a Writ ordering him to do so.”

On the point of a further risk assessment having to be carried out, Miss Doherty told the court that an assessment had been carried out on October 10, just a week before the Inquest began.

Mr Justice Colton said that he would consider all the points made on the anonymity application and then give his determination on it.

Evidence will conclude tomorrow with the final witness, journalist Kevin Myers, due to take the witness stand.

A video clip of Mr Meyer’s news report for RTE on May 20, 1972 from the scene where Manus Deery was struck by the round fired by William Glasgow, has been repeatedly shown throughout the inquest.