‘Every grieving family deserves chance for justice’ – Sean McAnespie

A BRITISH soldier will next week stand trial for the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in Aughnacloy more than 34 years ago.

In what it has been warned could be the last Troubles trial, the soldier, David Holden will appear at Laganside Courthouse charged with the manslaughter of Mr McAnespie while on his way to a GAA match at the grounds of Aghaloo GAA in February 1988.

But Amnesty International has this week warned that the trial could be the last of the Troubles related killings if the Government plans to impose a statute of limitations on Troubles prosecutions succeeds.

The McAnespie family is calling on the UK Government to abandon these plans and ensure that every victim has access to justice.

Sean McAnespie, brother of Aidan, said every grieving family deserves a chance for justice.

“We have been forced to wait in purgatory for the past 34 years without any real opportunity for closure, but you never give up,” he added.

“Aidan was simply on his way to a football match and in an instant, he had his entire life ahead of him snatched away. The passage of time has not diminished the pain of losing Aidan.”

Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland Campaigns manager at Amnesty said the trial represents the due process that the UK Government is seeking to shut down for victims and demonstrates clearly why plans to legislate for a de factor amnesty must not succeed.