Security firm’s risk management failure

THE boss of the security firm that hired a guard who later killed two of his colleagues in Iraq admitted there were “systemic failings” in the company’s recruitment process.

Danny Fitzsimons, a former pupil at Our Lady’s School in Royton, is now serving a 20-year sentence in Iraq for murdering Scot Paul McGuigan and Australian Darren Hoare within 36 hours of arriving in Iraq in 2009. The three men were security guards with G4S-owned ArmorGroup.

David Taylor-Smith, former chief executive of G4S UK, told Mr McGuigan’s inquest the screening process for employees was inadequate.

Fitzsimons, from Rochdale, was deployed without up-to-date references, without a criminal record bureau check and with a forged medical certificate. He was also on bail for firearms offences.

The incident had highlighted inadequate screening of employees and there had been a “systemic failing” in the firm’s risk management screening process since 2006, according to Mr Taylor-Smith, who has since resigned from the company.

The inquest continues.