Former soldier puts heart attack down to stress of facing trial over Troubles shooting
A FORMER soldier who is on trial for shooting an innocent man during the Troubles has revealed he has had a heart attack.
Dennis Hutchings (77), who is also suffering from kidney failure, had pains in his chest last week as he was travelling with his wife.
He was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, but was discharged after five days.
The former corporal major with the Life Guards was charged with attempted murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to 27-year-old JohnPat Cunningham, who was shot dead in June 1974.
Mr Cunningham was killed as he ran away from a military pa-
trol in Benburb, Co Tyrone. But it was later revealed he was an innocent bystander and had the mental age of a child.
Mr Hutchings, who lives in Cornwall, claimed the stress of the ongoing court case in Bel- fast had caused the heart attack which nearly killed him.
He told the Daily Mail: “We were driving home after lunch and I felt a tightening in my chest.
“I thought it was indigestion but it was getting worse and worse so I drove to a local hospital. Next thing I knew they were putting me in an ambulance. “It has been pretty rough. “The strain I have been under has definitely contributed to the heart attack.”
He added: “But I worry about the other old soldiers who are being pursued. They might not be able to cope with it like I have.
“This ordeal has been terrible for my health.
“The Government has completely washed its hands of us.
“We risked our lives for the country and they have thrown us to the lions.”
In October, it was reported that Mr Hutchings had turned down medical treatment so that he can appear in court.
The Daily Express reported that he is refusing treatment for kidney disease for fear it would get his case dismissed on medical grounds.
Mr Hutchings told the Express: “I have thought about going to one of those clinics in Switzerland. I have chronic kidney disease and an aneurysm which is growing. If that bursts I am dead anyway.
“Last week I was diagnosed with the early stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and I have problems with a valve in my heart which they cannot fix.”