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Identity of British soldier who killed Derry teen Manus Deery revealed for first time

Helen Deery and her sister Marie at Derry Courthouse on Monday for the first day of the new inquest into the shooting of their teenage brother Manus Deery by the British Army in Derry's Bogside in 1972. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Helen Deery and her sister Marie at Derry Courthouse on Monday for the first day of the new inquest into the shooting of their teenage brother Manus Deery by the British Army in Derry's Bogside in 1972. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Helen Deery and her sister Marie at Derry Courthouse on Monday for the first day of the new inquest into the shooting of their teenage brother Manus Deery by the British Army in Derry's Bogside in 1972. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

THE identity of a British soldier who shot a Derry teenager dead more than 40 years ago has been revealed for the first time.

A new inquest into the shooting of Manus Deery, in May 1972, heard on Monday that anonymity order granted to the soldier – now identified as William Glasgow – no longer applied as he died in 2001.

The 15-year-old was shot dead as he stood with friends near Rossville Street in Derry’s Bogside in 1972. The Derry teenager was eating chips when he was shot from the city’s walls.

An inquest into his death in 1973 returned an open verdict. Glasgow, who was known by the cipher “A,” did not give evidence in person to the 1973 inquest.

However the soldier maintained at the time that he fired at what appeared to be a gunman about 200 metres away, missed, and the stray bullet killed the teenager.

In 2012, Attorney General, John Larkin ruled that there should be a new inquest into the teenager’s death. The new inquest was told yesterday a security force assessment of the victim found he was not involved in any paramilitary activity.

The 15-year-old’s family has campaigned to have the 1973 open verdict replaced by an unlawful death finding.

Another soldier who was with Glasgow at the time – known as Soldier B – will give evidence to the inquest on Thursday. It is understood Soldier B will deliver his testimony from behind a screen. The inquest, which will hear from civilian and police witnesses, is expected to last for two weeks.