EX-SAS soldier faces jail after refusing to go to IRA inquest

A FORMER SAS soldier is facing jail for contempt of court after refusing to appear at an inquest into the deaths of three members of an IRA hit squad.

The veteran, who is now in his 60s, has declined to give evidence in person, arguing he is too ill to undergo cross-examination. Two leading psychiatrists have concluded the ex-soldier, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, should not go in the witness box.

The inquest concerns the death of three IRA gunmen who were killed in an SAS ambush that took place in the village of Coagh, in County Tyrone, in June 1991. The IRA unit was reportedly on its way to murder a part-time member of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

One of the men killed was Tony Doris, 21, who was a cousin of Michelle O’neill, Northern Ireland’s current First Minister, who is also vice president of Sinn Fein. The other two IRA gunmen – Peter Ryan, 37, and Lawrence Mcnally, 38 – were linked to 43 murders.

The soldier, known only as Soldier F, has provided a witness statement for the inquest and agreed to answer written questions, but insisted he was too unwell to be cross-examined.

But now a court in Scotland, where Soldier F lives, has ruled he is in contempt of court for refusing to attend the inquest in Northern Ireland. It ordered Soldier F to be jailed for six months pending the outcome of an appeal.

A source close to Soldier F told The Telegraph: “Soldier F is a very vulnerable man. He is physically disabled as well as suffering from severe PTSD. This is a terrible injustice. Two professors of psychiatry have said he is not well enough to be cross-examined. Doctors have said he is at risk of suicide.”

The inquest was launched in 2022 to examine whether lethal force was justified following a campaign run by the relatives of the dead men. The UK Government is attempting to shut down fresh inquests and prosecutions through the new Northern Ireland Troubles Act, but ongoing cases are not affected.

At the start of the inquest, Brett Lockhart KC, counsel for the coroner, said: “Two of the men got out of the car, according to soldiers who have given statements, and were carrying rifles. They were both shot at by other soldiers who had been in the vicinity of the Bedford lorry. Both the Volkswagen and the Cavalier burst into flames. All three bodies … were burnt beyond recognition.”

Mr Justice Humphreys, Northern Ireland’s leading coroner, had described Soldier F as “an important and central witness”. He is alleged to have helped plan the ambush and was one of the soldiers who opened fire.