Soldier to be charged over 1972 murder of Derry teen
A RETIRED British soldier is to be prosecuted over the murder of a teenage boy who was shot dead in 1972, Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service has announced.
The veteran, identified as Soldier B, will face the charge of murdering 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty.
Daniel was shot and killed by a member of an army patrol on duty in the Creggan area of Derry on July 31, 1972, during what was known as Operation Motorman, which was aimed at retaking the ‘no-go areas’ that had been established in urban centres.
Daniel died after being shot twice in the head by Soldier B.
The former soldier will also be charged with wounding with intent after Daniel’s cousin Christopher Hegarty, then aged 17, was also shot and injured. Last year, the Hegarty family won the right to seek the prosecution of the soldier after the Belfast High Court quashed a Public Prosecution Service decision not to bring criminal charges against him.
The director of the PPS, Stephen Herron, met with members of the Hegarty family to inform them of the decision at a private meeting in Derry yesterday.
The family welcomed the decision. In a statement, they said: ‘This has been a long journey. We have lost our parents along the way and, recently, our sister Philomena. Daniel was a 15-year-old child, full of life, shot twice in the head at close range and left for dead by Soldier B during what has been called Operation Motorman.’
Mr Herron said: ‘Following the ruling of the Divisional Court last year, I conducted a review of this case.
‘I have given careful consideration to all of the available evidence.
‘This has included material obtained in the course of the initial investigation, by a later investigation carried out by the Historical Enquiries Team, material generated by inquest proceedings and a number of expert forensic reports, the most recent of which was provided after the court ruling in 2018.
‘I have concluded that the evidence which can be presented at court is sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction and that the evidential test for prosecution is met.’ A British government spokeswoman said: ‘We note today’s decision taken by the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, and we will offer full legal and pastoral support to the individual affected.’