SAS 1984 killings in Derry: helmet never located

A preliminary hearing in the inquest into the deaths of two Derry men shot dead by the SAS has been told that a helmet being worn by one of the deceased had not been recovered despite searches for it.
William Fleming (left) and Danny Doherty were shot dead by the SAS in grounds of Gransha Hospital, Derry in December 1984. (Pacemaker)William Fleming (left) and Danny Doherty were shot dead by the SAS in grounds of Gransha Hospital, Derry in December 1984. (Pacemaker)
William Fleming (left) and Danny Doherty were shot dead by the SAS in grounds of Gransha Hospital, Derry in December 1984. (Pacemaker)

At a previous hearing into the deaths of William Fleming (19) from the Waterside area of Derry and Danny Doherty (23) from Creggan, the Coroner Mr Justice Ian Huddleston was told that efforts were being made to locate the helmets and clothes the men were wearing when they were shot.

Danny Doherty and William Fleming were killed in the grounds of Gransha Hospital in December 1984. A previous hearing had heard that William Fleming had been shot four times in the head and 56 times to the body. Danny Doherty had been shot three times to the head and 21 times to the body.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The hearing on Wednesday, November 16, heard that a motorcycling helmet worn by Mr Doherty had been recovered and had been handed over to the PSNI for examination.

Efforts were ongoing to try and find clothes worn by Mr Doherty on the day.

Karen Quinlivan KC for the next of kin told the hearing that the clothes worn by Mr Fleming had been returned to the family and subsequently destroyed.

Counsel for the PSNI said that searches for the helmet worn by Mr Fleming had been made but had proved unsuccessful.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The hearing also heard about issues with some of the soldiers involved in the inquest.

The hearing was told that a medical report was expected in January on Soldier A as regards his ability to give evidence to the inquest.

Ms Quinlivan asked that any medical notes and records that will be made available to the consultant psychiatrist should be made available to the next of kin.

Counsel for Soldier A said that that issue may not arise and it would be better to wait on the report.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Soldier A is believed to have been one of the soldiers involved in the shooting.

Two other soldiers identified as D and E, the hearing was told, had initially indicated their willingness to take part in the inquest but had subsequently said they were 'reflecting' on that decision.

Another soldier identified as Soldier M, counsel for the Ministry of Defence told the hearing, was willing to make a statement but 'was not minded' to make himself available to a Coroner's investigator as he believed his involvement in the incident was 'tangential'.

Ms Quinlivan told the hearing that in another inquest some 20 members of the Headquarters Mobile Support Unit were identified from some of the sensitive material.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said that these type of incidents often involved the HMSU and in this case none were listed.

She said she wanted to flag up this issue in case any relevant witnesses could be identified that as yet had not been produced.

A further hearing is scheduled for December 2.

A date has been fixed for the inquest into the deaths of the two men for April 17 next year in Banbridge.