Shropshire soldier's family taking legal advice over shooting death
The family of a Shropshire-based soldier who was shot dead during a tragic Army training mix-up are today taking legal advice after an inquest ruled he was unlawfully killed.
As grieving family members welcomed the outcome, they also criticised Army personnel who refused to tell everything they knew.
Michael 'Mike' Maguire, 21, originally from County Cork, Ireland, was hit in the temple by a single machine gun bullet fired by a fellow soldier training one kilometre (0.6 miles) away.
He was relaxing in a designated safe haven at the sprawling Castlemartin Ranges, along the Pembrokeshire coast, in May last year.
The ranger, with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, based at Tern Hill near Market Drayton, had taken off his body armour and protective helmet after finishing his own live fire training.
A two-week inquest in Cardiff into the circumstances surrounding his death highlighted a series of potentially fatal failings.
Alison Millar, the lawyer from Leigh Day representing the Maguire family, said: "Unlawful killing is the strongest possible verdict available and reflects the seriousness of the failures relating to the planning, set-up and conduct of this training exercise which resulted in Michael losing his life.
"We feel this inquest has also raised issues about the chain of command and the systems in place on Army firing ranges. We are now considering further legal options with the family."
Range commander Lieutenant Jonathan Price dismissed suggestions while giving evidence that he had failed to fully take up his responsibilities.
But the jury heard that a risk assessment was not fully carried out and attack targets were found to be wrongly placed.
Lt Price had passed a course allowing him to plan and carry out live fire tactical training just nine months before.
Course tutors passed him as 'competent' but had enough reservations about his ability to recommend 'increased levels of supervision'.
On the day of the tragedy a machine gunner was allowed to turn his weapon inland towards where ranger Maguire was deemed to be safe.
It is likely live fire from the same weapon was shot in the direction of the nearby Freshwater West Beach known to be a magnet for surfers.
In chilling evidence the jury heard that the beach fell well within the danger range of the machine gun firing live ammunition,
An expert told the inquest he had never come across such a situation and could only imagine the person responsible was disorientated.
