A BRITISH soldier who shot a Derry teenager dead in 1972 should have been prosecuted, a former RUC detective has said.
David McNeill told an inquest into the death of Manus Deery (15) he would have recommended the soldier be prosecuted if he had been told he had breached army rules.
The teenager was shot dead in May 1972 as he stood with friends close to his home in Derry’s Bogside.
He died from a gunshot wound to the head fired from the city’s walls.
At the inquest last week, the soldier who fired the fatal shot was named for the first time as William Glasgow.
An anonymity order protecting the former soldier was lifted after it was revealed he died in 2001.
Last week's hearing also heard from the soldier’s commanding officer, former major Trevor Wilson.
Mr Wilson became emotional as he told the Deery family he was sorry for what they had gone through.
At Monday's hearing, Mr McNeill said had he been aware of a report from Army Legal Services that Glasgow broke the British Army's rules on when to open fire, he would have recommended prosecution.
Mr McNeill said he was not made aware of the British army report until two weeks ago.
In a poignant aside, a brother of Manus Deery, Seamus (63), was buried as Monday’s hearing opened.
His family said Mr Wilson’s apology was whispered to Mr Deery hours before he passed away on Saturday.
The inquest continues on Tuesday.
