Army veteran Dennis Hutchings, 80, died last night after catching Covid-19 midway through his controversial trial for a fatal Troubles shooting almost 50 years ago
An army veteran died last night after catching Covid midway through his controversial trial for a fatal Troubles shooting almost 50 years ago.
Dennis Hutchings, 80, was suffering from terminal kidney failure and heart disease when he flew to Belfast this month to face a judge-only trial, but said he was determined to clear his name over the alleged attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham in County Tyrone in 1974.
His case was one of two ongoing prosecutions of Northern Ireland veterans who served during the Troubles despite government plans announced in the summer to end all criminal and civil cases relating to deaths during the 30-year conflict.
As the proposals are yet to be implemented and were met with fierce backlash on both sides of Northern Ireland's political divide, Mr Hutchings' kidney failure and heart disease, sat in the dock in Belfast on alternate days so he could receive gruelling kidney dialysis treatment.
Over the weekend, he contracted Covid and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance last night after complaining that he was struggling to breathe. But his condition deteriorated and he later died.
The spectacle of a dying veteran sitting in a dock in Belfast wearing his service medals was already hugely embarrassing for Boris Johnson and the Conservative government, which had previously vowed to end repeated investigations into those who served in Northern Ireland.
His death sparked a further slew of criticism last night as to why the trial was allowed to take place at all.
Mr Hutchings was told he would not be prosecuted in the months after Mr Cunningham's death following an initial investigation, and again in 2011 when the case was reviewed.
Over the weekend, Mr Hutchings contracted Covid and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance last night after complaining that he was struggling to breathe
However it was reopened by the Legacy Investigation Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2015 and Mr Hutchings was arrested and taken from his home in Cornwall to Northern Ireland for questioning.
The veteran (pictured when younger) was determined to clear his name over the alleged attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham in County Tyrone in 1974
Last night Paul Young, a former Blues and Royals soldier now working with the Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans group, said: 'This has been an absolute disgrace.
'This frail, old, sick man hounded to his grave without being able to clear his name.
'He was absolutely determined to be in court. The justice system was insatiable and wanted his scalp but he died a lonely old man on his own in a Covid ward.'
Critics of the plans to prosecute Northern Ireland veterans have cited the alleged hounding of soldiers who served in the province, while IRA terrorists were released early from prison or told they would not be prosecuted for Troubles-related offences following the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Great-grandfather Mr Hutchings was supported in court by his partner of 25 years, Kim, last week, and son John, however the pair returned to England when his trial was postponed following his Covid diagnosis. Mr Cunningham was shot dead during an Army operation near the village of Benburb on June 15, 1974.
The trial heard that prosecutors were unable to prove whether Mr Hutchings or another soldier, now dead, fired the fatal shots, as no forensic evidence was collected.
Mr Hutchings maintained he only fired aimed warning shots into the air. Mr Cunningham's nephew and niece attended the trial this month and have said there was on proper investigation into their relative's death.
Sitting in a crown court dock in Belfast this month, service medals pinned to his chest, Mr Hutchings somehow maintained his dignified stoicism
RESOLUTE TO THE END, HUTCHINGS BATTLED TO CLEAR HIS NAME
By GLEN KEOGH for the Daily Mail
Dennis Hutchings was a proud man. Proud of his 26 years served with distinction in the Army. Proud of his 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A soldier, then company director, then retired family man. Not bad for a boy who grew up squatting with his family in an abandoned Army barracks in Blyth,
