Soldiers 'ignore riot inquest'

Two key military witnesses are refusing to attend an inquest into a riot which saw a man killed by an Army vehicle, a coroner has heard.

Dermot McShane, 36, a former INLA man, was run over during serious rioting in Londonderry on 13 July 1996.

The driver of the Saxon vehicle and a senior British army officer have ignored the coroner's ruling to attend.

He said there was "sanction available" to make the officer give evidence, while a letter was given to the driver.

The inquest, which began on Tuesday, has already heard that the rioting, which flared after Orangemen walked down Portadown's Garvaghy Road, was some of the worst civic violence ever witnessed in the city.

'Against Army procedures'

Private Daniel Moran was the driver of the 11-ton Saxon armoured personnel carrier which struck Mr McShane, the inquest heard.

To see hundreds of people coming towards you was just like a David and Goliath situation Inspector Neil Graham

Coroner Brian Sherrard was told that Mr Moran was the only soldier in the Saxon and that he had driven the vehicle against Army procedures.

Mr Sherrard said police in the jurisdiction where Mr Moran now lives had personally handed the letter to him, but he had so far failed to respond.

He said the other military witness to ignore his ruling, Simon Crane, was the second most senior British army officer on the streets that night.

The coroner said he issued a subpoena to the witness which will be served on him through the High Court.

"There is a sanction available to me if he does not attend," Mr. Sherrard added.

'Terrifying experience'

Meanwhile, the police officer who ordered the personnel carrier to be driven at a wooden advertising hoarding - behind which Dermot McShane was sheltering - told the inquest he feared for his life and that of the 29 officers under his command.

Inspector Neil Graham said police lines were under attack from 500 rioters.

He said it was a terrifying experience, but the police could not retreat, because "retreating was not on the agenda".

"To see hundreds of people coming towards you was just like a David and Goliath situation," he said.

The inquest continues.