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Ex-paratrooper was facing UK jail term
Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA
Date online: 12 August 2009
A former British soldier accused of murdering two colleagues in Iraq was facing a possible jail term in Britain and has a conviction for firearms offences, it emerged today.
Ex–paratrooper Danny Fitzsimons (29), a former pupil at Our Lady’s Catholic School, Royton, is accused of shooting dead two fellow private security guards in Baghdad on Sunday.
He faces a possible death penalty in Iraq for the alleged double murder.
Today it emerged Fitzsimons, said to have been tormented after serving eight years in the forces, had pulled a gun on children while at his home in Middleton.
Neighbours said Fitzsimons turned on teenagers causing trouble outside the run–down ground–floor council flat where the former soldier lived while on leave from his security job in Iraq.
He pulled a flare gun and fired it into the air to scare the children off.
Fitzsimons was convicted of a public order offence over the incident, on April 1 this year, and had yet to be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court.
And he was given a suspended sentence in November last year for firearms offences after being found in possession of prohibited ammunition.
Fitzsimons, who worked for private security firm ArmorGroup Iraq, is now in jail in Baghdad and could be the first foreigner publicly executed in the country.
Fitzsimons has reportedly told police in Iraq he was drunk when he got into a fight and pulled his gun in self–defence, leaving Scotsman Paul McGuigan and Australian Darren Hoare dead.
He was arrested shortly after the incident in Baghdad’s International Zone on Sunday morning.
Fitzsimons was raised in New Moston but lives in Rochdale. He served both in Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the Army five years ago. His family said he had been treated for post traumatic stress after leaving.
His father, Eric Fitzsimons, a PE teacher, played for Oldham Rugby League Club between 1979 to 1981 and later coached the team.
He also coached St Anne’s Amateur Rugby Club, and lives with Daniel’s stepmother Liz in Whitworth, Rochdale.
He said his son should be tried in the UK and he was suffering from psychiatric stress following his experiences in Iraq.
His mother Beverley lives in Blackley.
The family described the situation as every parents worst nightmare and were heartbroken for the families of the two men who died.
They said they had been unable to speak to Daniel directly and were looking for funding to ensure he received a fair trial.
Comments
International Security is a very 'murky' world. I have several colleagues who I served in the Army with who are doing it or have done it. The pay is astronomical - US$350 a day. The only requirements that you have previously served in a a frontline unit in the British Army.
There are several companies involved - ArmorGroup & AEGIS to name but two. I think even Group4 is in it somewhere.
i would not say the pay is astronomical compared to what some people who have never done a hard days work in their life get like designing stupid pieces of art and flowerbeds that people dont want. The lifes a hardship and most guys are there to support their families and to try and save civillian contractors lives, as well as their own.
How did he get a SIA Licence if he had firearm offence???? A question must be asked of Armour Group SOP's, why when their personnel are obviously off duty and drinking are they carrying loaded firearms????? They surely must have orders to unload and secure all arms when not required.....My condolences go out to the family and friends of the two deceased men, both very good men I hear, they have been killed due to very slack procedures........
Pegasus666 ( a paratrooper's nickname if ever there was one). Such is the threat that in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq, that the regular soldiers and the security contractors are armed all the time. When they are in their bases their weapon is in their bedspace along with all the other ammunition - grenades etc.
Because of political 'needs', the SIA isn't bothered with. Really they are state mercenaries.
Have Your Say
How the hell did he get a job with a security firm when he suffers from PTSD?
He basically is unfit to work in the Armed forces but the company "Armorgroup" still allowed him to work for them.
How did he get out of the country if he was awaiting sentence? I feel for the two mens families.
Football hooligans cannot leave the country to watch England but he is allowed to go freely where he chooses.
Typical of this country !!!
By johnnye98 @ 12/08/2009 14:35:31