Soldier's mother refused payment

Stephen Restorick was 23 when he was killed

The mother of the last soldier murdered by the IRA in Northern Ireland has been refused compensation for the trauma caused to her family by his death.

Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick was shot by a sniper while manning a checkpoint at Bessbrook, Northern Ireland, in February 1997.

His mother Rita from Underwood in Nottinghamshire said she was disgusted at the ruling by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

Mrs Restorick said: "It is ridiculous when somebody at the checkpoint who witnessed Stephen's death can get a doctor to confirm that he suffered mental injury through that and can get compensation because they are termed a primary victim.

Rita Restorick: "Decision is ridiculous"

"Whereas, because I am termed a secondary victim, as Stephen's mother, I cannot get a penny," she said.

In its decision the CICA has rejected the arguments of Mrs Restorick's lawyers at a hearing at Nottingham's Magistrates Court last Wednesday where they argued that Mrs Restorick had suffered mental injury as a result of seeing media images of the aftermath of her son's killing.

The CICA said it was believed to be the first case in which the family of a soldier killed in Northern Ireland had applied for criminal injuries compensation through the English courts.

Stephen Restorick was 23 when he was killed.

Bernard McGinn was later charged and convicted of his murder, but released under the Good Friday Agreement.

His conviction has since been quashed after the Belfast Court of Appeal found he had not been properly cautioned.