Clashes at Army Killing Inquest Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: IRSP Clashes At Army Killing Inquest PA 10/20/97 12:36 Copyright 1997 PA News George Jackson, Derry, ordered by Ian Graham Belfast Scuffles broke out at an inquest today on an Irish National Liberation Army member shot dead by undercover soldiers seven years ago. People in the public gallery in Londonderry clashed with police when RUC officers put up a screen to prevent the public and reporters seeing soldiers involved in the operation that ended in the death of Alex Patterson. Several police officers drew their batons and about 12 people were removed from the courtroom. One man, who was struck several times, was handcuffed and taken into custody. Father of four Mr Patterson, 31, was shot dead after an INLA gun attack on the home of an Ulster Defence Regiment soldier at Victoria Bridge, Co Tyrone, on November 12, 1990. Coroner Ronnie O'Doherty granted a written request from Defence Secretary George Robertson to apply a Public Interest Immunity Certificate to the hearing to protect the identities of the special unit soldiers. A statement from "Soldier D", who fired the fatal shot, was read by a senior police officer who investigated the shooting. The coroner asked if Soldier D was aware of the time and location of theinquest. The RUC officer said he believed D was, but the soldier was not present. Pathologist Dr Jack Craine said Mr Patterson died when a high velocity bullet entered his left nostril and exited behind his left ear. A statement by Soldier D was read out by Detective Superintendent John Middlemass. D was one of ten soldiers who took part in a surveillance operation in the grounds of, and inside, a bungalow at Victoria Bridge. They had been briefed to expect a terrorist incident, the statement said. Shots were fired at the house from the back of a passing car. Several soldiers returned fire and ran after the car. Soldier D said that as a comrade, Soldier F, stood behind the car, he saw a man inside the vehicle pointing his arms towards F. "I saw a figure inside the car moving his arms forward. "I believed my life and the lives of my colleagues were in danger, so I fired a single shot at the figure and saw the figure fall," Soldier D said in his statement. Another soldier, A ,said the saw a person wearing a balaclava fire a machine gun at the bungalow from the car as it drove by. He and other soldiers returned fire and ran after the car. He saw a movement in the car and heard a soldier discharge one shot. The inquest continues. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-10.21.97-17:12:32-22965