Soldiers Facing Prosecution for Involvement in 1991 SAS ‘Kill Zone’
A coroner overseeing an inquest into the deaths of three IRA men killed in an SAS ambush in 1991 has referred several soldiers to Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
Last week, Mr. Justice Humphreys, the presiding coroner for Northern Ireland, determined that the SAS soldiers were “justified” in using “lethal force” during the incident in Coagh, County Tyrone.
Four soldiers referred to as Soldiers M, N, E, and F were referred to the PPS for their involvement in planning the operation. Additionally, Soldiers E and U were referred over the destruction of a video of the ambush.
On June 3, 1991, Michael “Pete” Ryan, 37, Lawrence McNally, 39, and Tony Doris, 21, were fatally shot by SAS soldiers in Coagh. The soldiers fired up to 150 rounds at the men.
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Their car collided with another vehicle and a wall before catching fire.
Relatives of the victims believe the men were targeted under a “shoot-to-kill” policy by the British Army, alleging that there was no intention of arresting them.
Padraig O Muirigh, a solicitor for the Ryan and Doris families, expressed approval of the coroner’s decision.
Families Believe Coagh Was ‘Kill Zone’
He stated that “The Ryan and Doris families have always maintained that the military were operating a shoot-to-kill policy at this time and effectively set up a kill zone in Coagh.”
Last week, Mr. Justice Humphreys concluded that the soldiers believed it was necessary to shoot the men to prevent loss of life, as they were allegedly planning to kill a former member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) in a nearby car park.
Testimony indicated that a “hard arrest” was planned with a “reaction group” in Hanover Square assigned to make the arrest. However, flaws were identified in the operation’s planning as the “reaction group” was positioned too far away from the car park to intervene in time, resulting in the soldiers engaging the men, leading to their deaths.
The soldiers were heavily criticized for destroying a video of the ambush. The judge condemned this action and accused senior British Army officers of supporting it, stating that it undermined the rule of law.
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act became effective on Wednesday, leading to the discontinuation of all inquests and prosecutions related to The Troubles.
Prior to the deadline, Mr. Justice Humphreys wrote to Northern Ireland’s director of public prosecutions, Stephen Herron, outlining potential criminal offenses in relation to the soldiers’ actions.
He stated: “I have carefully considered the submissions and am required to refer the conduct of Soldiers M, N, E, and F and the destruction of the video recording by Soldiers E and U to your office.”
The inquest was officially closed, and the findings were finalized.
New Body Takes Over Troubles-Era Investigations
The new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) has begun investigating incidents from The Troubles. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane, whose father was a victim of loyalist violence, expressed disappointment in the legal challenges coming to an end.
PA Media contributed to this report.
