Soldier ‘unlawfully killed’ on range by live bullet

A SOLDIER, shot in the head in a safe haven at an army live-fire shooting range, was unlawfully killed, an inquest jury found yesterday.

Michael “Mike” Maguire, 21, was hit in the temple by a single machine-gun bullet fired by a fellow soldier during a training exercise.

Ranger Maguire was relaxing at a secure location just outside a training range at the Castlemartin Ranges, in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, in May last year.

An inquest jury in Cardiff heard evidence about the tragic killing after sitting for more than two weeks.

The fatal bullet was fired one kilometre (0.6 miles) away inland towards another group of recruits on a live fire exercise. All live fire should have been safely aimed out to sea.

The family of Ranger Maguire, who was originally from County Cork, Ireland, were present at the inquest throughout and welcomed the outcome yesterday.

Michael Maguire snr listened in silence as the inquest verdict was read out. Jimmy Maguire, the ranger’s older brother, said the inquest had been an “emotional ordeal” for the family.

Ranger Maguire was a member of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, had already spent one tour of duty in Afghanistan.