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Family of Aidan McAnespie to hold vigil

 Map showing the route taken by Mr McAnespie on the day he was killed
 Map showing the route taken by Mr McAnespie on the day he was killed  Map showing the route taken by Mr McAnespie on the day he was killed

FAMILY and friends of a Co Tyrone man shot dead by the British army 30 years ago will hold a vigil today at the spot where he was killed.

Aidan McAnespie was killed shortly after crossing a British army checkpoint at Aughnacloy as he made his way to Aughaloo GAC grounds on February 21, 1988.

His killing caused widespread anger among nationalists and prompted the Irish government to appoint then Garda commissioner Eugene Crowley to carry out an investigation.

The report he complied was presented to then Irish justice minister Gerry Collins in April 1988 but has never been published.

Current Irish justice minister Charlie Flanagan has faced calls fro prominent GAA figures, including the association’s director General Páraic Duffy, to release the report.

Mr McAnespie’s bother Vincent last night said his family remains disappointed at the failure to hand over the report.

“I would understand it if it was the British government,” he said.

“But you would be thinking that the Free State government would be helping and back you up,” he said.

Manslaughter charges brought against the soldier who fired the fatal shot, Grenadier Guardsman David Jonathan Holden, were dropped.

He was later fined for negligent discharge of his weapon and allowed to return to duty before being given a medical discharge in 1990.

In 2016 Attorney General John Larkin referred the case back to the then Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory.

Mr McAnespie said his family hopes the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) each a decision soon.

“This is going on for two years since the file was given to the PPS, I never thought it was going to take this length of time,” he said.

Earlier this week the PPS told the Irish News the “review has now entered the final stages of consideration”.

Mr McAnespie said his family is grateful for the support it has received.

“We are thankful of the support we have got from local people especially over the past while,” he said.

“And we are thankful for the people coming forward to give us information and the GAA who are coming out now to support us.”

Mr McAnespie’s family and friends will hold a short vigil at a memorial erected at eh spot where he was killed at 2.50pm today - the time he was shot.

 Map showing the route taken by Mr McAnespie on the day he was killed
 Map showing the route taken by Mr McAnespie on the day he was killed  Map showing the route taken by Mr McAnespie on the day he was killed