Shropshire soldier's shooting death unlawful, inquest rules
A soldier based in Shropshire who was shot in the head in a safe haven at an Army live-fire shooting range was unlawfully killed, an inquest jury found this afternoon.
Michael 'Mike' Maguire, aged 21, was hit in the temple by a single machine gun bullet fired during a training exercise.
Ranger Maguire originally from County Cork, Ireland, was a member of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment based at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton.
He was relaxing at a secure location just outside a training range at the Castlemartin Ranges, in Pembrokeshire, in May last year.
An inquest jury in Cardiff heard two weeks of evidence about the tragic killing before reaching today's verdict.
The fatal bullet was fired one kilometre (0.6 miles) away inland towards another group of recruits on a live fire exercise. All live fire should have been safely aimed out to sea.
The family of ranger Maguire, who was originally from County Cork, Ireland, were present at the inquest throughout and welcomed the outcome today.
Michael Maguire senior listened in silence as the inquest verdict was read out today.
Jimmy Maguire, the ranger's brother, said the inquest had been an 'emotional ordeal'. He said that despite the outcome there were still unanswered questions.
