Shot INLA man 'had no chance to give up' Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:IRSP Irish News 22 October 1997 Shot INLA man 'had no chance to give up' By Seamus McKinney Derry Correspondent A STRABANE INLA man shot dead during an attack on the home of a member of the security forces in 1990 was given no chance to surrender before the fatal shot was fired, an inquest into his death has been told. Derry coronor Ronnie Doherty was also told a woman living near the scene of the November 1990 attack heard a man cry at the time of the shooting. Alex Patterson (31) was shot dead outside the home of a member of the security forces at Victoria Bridge, moments after the house had been sprayed with gunfire. Security forces claimed Mr Patterson was the driver of the car used in the attack and was, killed by members of a special unit of the British army which had been notified of the attack in advance. At the start of the inquest on Monday, coronor Mr Doherty accepted a Ministry of Defence public interest immunity certificate protecting the identity of nine of the 10 soldiers who took part in the fatal operation. During yesterday's hearing, the commander of the unit - referred to as Soldier A - agreed under cross examination that Mr Patterson was given no opportunity to surrender before being shot. The 11-person inquest jury was also told by a neighbour of the INLA's intended target that a man was heard crying at the time of the shooting. Mary Carmel Corry of Melmount Road said she was sitting chatting to her husband on the night of November 12 1990 when she first heard thuds which sounded like someone hitting her garage door with a stick. The witness said it sounded as if the noises came from her back garden. After this, Ms Corry said she heard gunfire and immediately turned off the light in her kitchen as her husband crawled to the back door of the house and locked it. The witness said she heard a further "burst of fire" as she telephoned police in Strabane to notify them of the shooting. Ms Corry told the inquest she heard "cross words" outside her home followed by a man crying. Under cross examination by counsel for the Patterson family, Martin McCann, the witness said she was unsure of exactly when she heard the man crying in relation to the second burst of gunfire. The Victoria Bridge woman said she was concerned for whoever was crying although he did not say anything. The inquest also heard evidence from a Constable Michael Ewart who revealed that he had been present in the target house to liaise between the army and police during the incident. Constable Ewart, a member of a Headquarters' mobile support unit, said he remained in a back corridor throughout the incident. Forensic experts told the inquest that two guns were recovered from the scene of the shooting, one of which had jammed. Police also recovered black gloves and a combat coat from a field near where the Rover car used in the incident had come to a halt. Throughout yesterday's and Monday's hearing, the British army witnesses gave their evidence from behind screens at Derry court house. On the first day of the hearing, police drew batons after a confrontation broke out between the RUC and nationalists present at the inquest. The inquest is expected to conclude later today. ================================================================= 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-10.26.97-10:59:53-25253