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Kathleen Thompson inquest: Soldier D recalled to give evidence

written by cassoscoop June 23, 2021
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Kathleen Thompson was shot dead by British soldiers at her Creggan home in 1971

A FORMER soldier believed to have fired the fatal shots that killed a Derry mother almost 50 years ago has been recalled to give evidence to the resumed inquest.

Kathleen Thompson was shot dead in the garden of her Creggan home during an Army raid on November 6, 1971.

The former soldier, identified only as Soldier D, originally gave evidence when the inquest first began in 2018.

He testified to firing shots in the direction of where Ms Thompson was shot, claiming to have seen a gunman.

Soldier D was told he had been recalled to clear up some points that had arisen since his original appearance.

He was asked about the identity of several other soldiers who had served with him in the Royal Green Jackets regiment.

Soldier D told the inquest he could remember some of them but not if they were involved in the operation that resulted in Ms Thompson’s death.

Karen Quinlivan QC, a senior counsel for Ms Thompson’s family, asked Soldier D if he could recall that in his original evidence.

Soldier D said he could not remember who was on the operation in November 1971, nor could he help in identifying three soldiers known as A, B and C.

He was asked about the identity of specific soldiers and again said he knew some of them but not through involvement in the operation.

The witness said he could recall one particular soldier as he had taught him to drive a Ferret armoured car while he was serving in Derry.

Soldier D was asked about several soldiers who had served with him on a training course and he told the inquest that he had been stood down from that course after the shooting of Ms Thompson.

The inquest is expected to finish hearing evidence on Wednesday and then submissions from counsel will be heard at a later date.

Another former soldier told the inquest on Tuesday that he has no recollection of Mrs Thompson’s killing.

The witness told the hearing that Mrs Thompson’s name “meant nothing to him”.

The former soldier, identified only as KTM 461, said he served in the Royal Green Jackets based in Ballykelly, Co Derry, from April 1971 until March 1973.

He told the inquest he believed he had a good memory but had no recollection of the incident in which Mrs Thompson was shot dead.

KTM 461 said there was “a strong possibility” he was not in Derry on the date as he believed he would have remembered the shooting of a woman.

He told the hearing he could recall two incidents where shots had been fired by British soldiers.

The witness said one incident had been on Derry’s walls and the other in the city’s Bogside, when he said they had been fired upon and fire had been returned.

Kathleen Thompson and her family

Responding to questions from a barrister for the Thompson family, KTM 461 agreed the shooting of Mrs Thompson in her own backyard was not “a usual incident”.

He added he had no memory of any talk of the shooting among his colleagues and said the name meant nothing to him.

The former soldier said he had no memory of the incident.

He also told the hearing that prior to being contacted by the Coroner’s service he had been visited by what he believed to be two soldiers from Belfast in reference to the shooting.

The witness said two men he believed to be from the Army called to his house shortly after he received a letter from the Coroner’s office.

They showed identity cards and told him he would be contacted about the death of Kathleen Thompson, he told the hearing.

The witness said there were no details discussed and the men engaged in some “idle chit chat”.

He said he had also received another call from an officer offering him help and advice.

Kathleen Thompson inquest: Soldier D recalled to give evidence was last modified: June 23rd, 2021 by cassoscoop

Tags:
ballykellyDerryDERRY COURTHOUSEinquestKaren Quinliven QCKathleen Thompson inquest: Soldier D recalled to give evidenceKTM 461SOLDIER DThe Coroner's Service
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