Authorities focus on alleged safety breaches after ranger was shot while resting in "secure area" in west Wales live-fire range
A British soldier who died when he was hit by a machine-gun bullet at a live-firing range in west Wales was unlawfully killed, an inquest jury has ruled.
Ranger Michael Maguire, 20, was shot in the head as he relaxed after removing his armour and helmet at the range in Pembrokeshire.
Maguire, a member of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, was standing in an area that had been deemed secure, the inquest in Cardiff was told.
The training at the Castlemartin Ranges was part of the troops' build-up to a second tour of duty in Afghanistan, due to take place this year.
Jurors were told that the fatal bullet could have been fired by a fellow soldier attacking a static target 1km away. The inquest heard that a popular tourist beach close to the range could have been sprayed with machine-gun fire.
As well as the coroner's inquiry into Maguire's death, investigations by the Crown Prosecution Service and its military equivalent, the Service Prosecuting Authority, and the Health and Safety Executive remain active.
The inquest heard about the aftermath of the tragedy, which happened in May last year, from fellow soldiers.
Corporal Angus Neill, who was also relaxing in the same "safe" area with his helmet off, said: "I recall it being a crack and a whizz and I knew from experience in Afghanistan that these were rounds. He said he heard a comrade shout "man down" and went to help Maguire.
He described holding a dressing to what appeared to be a bleeding exit wound on the back of Maguire's head. He tried to clear the injured soldier's air way when he appeared to be struggling to breathe.
Neill said that his focus was on helping his friend at the time but it was possible bullets continued to pass overhead.
Another soldier, Corporal Peter Devlin, told the inquest: "I was standing about three metres from Ranger Maguire. I was having a cigarette and it all happened so quickly. I saw Ranger Maguire fall on the ground. I immediately saw that he was hit because I saw a wound to the top of his head."
Captain Gary Palmer, an army weapons expert, investigated the tragedy in parallel with the police. He said soldiers had been shooting outside the areas specified.
It also emerged that an officer involved in the running of the exercise was recommended for "supervision" after struggling to pass the live-fire tactical training course. Since then he has not run a shooting range and his range qualification has been suspended.
A safety supervisor on the range refused to tell an inquest about events on the fateful day because of possible further legal proceedings.
Corporal Mark McMahon gave details about his background and previous training but when faced with questions about the day of the shooting, he replied: "I regret I cannot answer that due to the ongoing investigations."
Witnesses at an inquest can refuse to answer questions if they believed it could implicate them in other proceedings.
via The Guardian World News http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/12/british-soldier-michael-maguire-unlawfully-killed
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