23 April 1998 Edition
Fury at DPP decisionFury at DPP decision
By Laura Friel
A decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to take any action against British soldiers involved in the death of Derryman Dermot McShane, has been greeted with outrage by human rights groups, local politicians and the dead man's family.
Dermot McShane was killed during disturbances in Derry provoked by the RUC decision to force an Orange march down the Garvaghy Road in July 1996. McShane was killed after he was struck by a British army vehicle. Film footage showed the vehicle striking the hoarding behind which McShane was sheltering, then reversing over it again with the dead man trapped underneath.
Fergal McShane, a brother of the victim, described the DPP decision as an absolute disgrace. ``It is ironic that the first time the RUC contact our family is to tell them that some soldier is literally going to get away with murder.'' A solicitor acting on behalf of the family, Paddy MacDermott also condemned the decision. ``Here we have a man killed in the most controversial circumstances and the DPP has effectively denied the family the right to know the full circumstances of Dermot McShane's death.'' Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness called for an international inquiry. ``This is in keeping with past decisions where nationalists have died at the hands of either the RUC or British army. Prosecutions rarely follow'', he said.
A decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to take any action against British soldiers involved in the death of Derryman Dermot McShane, has been greeted with outrage by human rights groups, local politicians and the dead man's family.
Dermot McShane was killed during disturbances in Derry provoked by the RUC decision to force an Orange march down the Garvaghy Road in July 1996. McShane was killed after he was struck by a British army vehicle. Film footage showed the vehicle striking the hoarding behind which McShane was sheltering, then reversing over it again with the dead man trapped underneath.
Fergal McShane, a brother of the victim, described the DPP decision as an absolute disgrace. ``It is ironic that the first time the RUC contact our family is to tell them that some soldier is literally going to get away with murder.'' A solicitor acting on behalf of the family, Paddy MacDermott also condemned the decision. ``Here we have a man killed in the most controversial circumstances and the DPP has effectively denied the family the right to know the full circumstances of Dermot McShane's death.'' Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness called for an international inquiry. ``This is in keeping with past decisions where nationalists have died at the hands of either the RUC or British army. Prosecutions rarely follow'', he said.