British soldier who lied about killing of innocent Aidan McAnespie in 1988 to be sentenced today

Former Grenadier Guardsman Holden, who was released on bail pending sentencing, is due to return to Belfast Crown Court on Thursday.

He was the first veteran to be found guilty of a historical offence in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement.

Depending on the sentence imposed, Holden could benefit from the agreement’s controversial early release scheme for prisoners. That would mean he would serve a maximum of two years.

Mr McAnespie (23), was killed in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, moments after walking through a border security checkpoint.

He was on his way to a local Gaelic Athletic Association club when he was shot in the back.

Holden had admitted firing the shot which killed Mr McAnespie, but had said he had discharged the weapon by accident because his hands were wet.

But trial judge Mr Justice O’Hara said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Holden was guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.

He found that Holden had pointed a machine gun at McAnespie and pulled the trigger, while assuming the gun was not cocked.

Delivering judgment in the non-jury trial, the judge said: “That assumption should not have been made.”

He also said the former soldier had given a “deliberately false account” of what happened.

The judge said: “The question for me is this – just how culpable is the defendant in the circumstances of this case?

“In my judgment he is beyond any reasonable doubt criminally culpable.”

During a sentencing hearing last week, a defence barrister said imposing a custodial sentence on Holden would be “unjust and unfair”.

Frank O’Donoghue said the veteran had led an “otherwise unblemished life” and there was evidence of “genuine remorse”.

Prosecution counsel Ciaran Murphy raised the “profound loss” suffered by the McAnespie family and the “enormous risk” taken by Holden when he was in no danger.

The sentence hearing comes amid ongoing controversy over Government plans to deal with Northern Ireland’s troubled past.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill proposals provide an effective amnesty for those suspected of killings during the conflict, if they agree to co-operate with a new body, known as the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (Icrir).

The Bill would also prohibit future civil cases and inquests related to Troubles crimes.