BBC NEWS Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific Arabic Spanish Russian Chinese Welsh
BBCi CATEGORIES   TV   RADIO   COMMUNICATE   WHERE I LIVE   INDEX    SEARCH 

BBC NEWS
 You are in: UK: Northern Ireland
Front Page 
World 
UK 
England 
Northern Ireland 
Scotland 
Wales 
UK Politics 
Business 
Sci/Tech 
Health 
Education 
Entertainment 
Talking Point 
In Depth 
AudioVideo 


Commonwealth Games 2002

BBC Sport

BBC Weather

SERVICES 
Wednesday, 5 December, 2001, 16:08 GMT
Soldier's mother refused payment
Stephen Restorick
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
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.

See also:

05 Oct 00 | Northern Ireland
Soldier murder conviction quashed
30 Jul 00 | Northern Ireland
Soldier's mother 'accepts' releases
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more Northern Ireland stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more Northern Ireland stories