Murdered Iraq guard about to be a dad

Exclusive: Deborah Linton

August 26, 2009

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Paul McGuigan with pregnant fiancée Nicci Prestage

THE pregnant fiancée of a security man shot dead in Iraq has told of her heartbreak that he will never meet his 'little princess'.

Paul McGuigan, 37, was due to marry Nicci Prestage, who is eight months pregnant with their daughter, in Las Vegas, next year.

Paul, who also had a five-year-old son, was killed by a gunman in Baghdad this month. Ex-paratrooper Danny Fitzsimons, from Rochdale, is accused of murdering Paul, who lived with Nicci in Tameside. Nicci, 36, told the M.E.N she spoke to Paul via a webcam, discussing baby names, just hours before his death.

She described their days together as 'filled with smiles and laughter' and said: "The pain is almost unbearable. We loved each other so much - I feel I have lost my best friend, my soulmate. He was such a caring guy and was so excited about the baby - he wanted to be involved in every detail.

"She was going to be his little princess. I get some comfort knowing that he saw her during the 4D (ultrasound) scan just before he left.

Dangerous

"He did a tough and dangerous job, but the Paul we knew at home was also a fantastic father and family man."

Nicci, who says Paul's body is due to be returned to Britain on Friday, is now faced with her worst nightmare as she will have to bury him only weeks before the birth of their first child together.

Paul, a former Royal Marine Commando who had provided security in Iraq since 2003, also had a five-year-old son from a previous marriage. Nicci has a 12-year-old daughter who he had planned to adopt. She said the wait to bring his body home and see him one last time was 'intolerable'.

She said: "This was to be his last time in Iraq. He planned to stay at home to look after his daughter. Now she will have to grow up without ever knowing him.

"My daughter is inconsolable - she loved him and thought of him as a dad. They had such a close bond."

Paul, originally from Scotland, had lived in Greater Manchester for three-and-a-half years. The couple met on a night out 18 months ago. Paul was working as a close protection team leader when he died.

Mr Fitzsimons, 29, is also accused of killing another man, Australian Darren Hoare. The three worked for British security firm ArmorGroup in Iraq.

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Pandora (26/08/2009 at 11:43)

Very sad, especially to have died at the hands of one of your own. You´ve got to wonder about the mentality of these mercenaries.

Jeannie Armstrong (06/09/2009 at 20:29)

Pandora- this is one incident. Just one incident. These 'mercenaries' as you call them are nothing of the sort. They are largely professionally trained career soldiers who continue to work freelance once they leave the British armed forces. Their 'mentality' as you so cutely phrase it is that of professional men needing to earn money and using the skills and lifestyle they are trained for and suited to.
If some have untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by their experiences during their previous service in the armed forces its because the Government and MOD fail in their duty of care to servicemen and women by FAILing to properly assess and treat and support those in whom PTSD becomes apparent. One hindrance to an efficient screening for PTSD is that symptoms often take around seven years to show up- and with many they have left the forces long behind.
We are going to reap the consequences of the lack of joined up screening and care increasingly.
But can I encourage you who wonders about the 'mentality of these mercenaries' to think and find out the facts before you inflict your ignorant and stupid remarks on the rest of us. Thanks.

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