THE family of a
former paratrooper accused of shooting dead two security guard colleagues in Iraq have been backed by their MP in a bid to bring him home to face trial.
Rochdale-born Danny Fitzsimons, 29, is accused of killing
Paul McGuigan, 37, from Tameside, and Australian Darren Hoare, 37, in August.
Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin is supporting the family's appeal to bring Mr Fitzsimons home and is putting pressure on the British government to intervene.
He is due to appear in court in Baghdad next month after his trial was adjourned on Sunday. All three men worked for British security firm ArmorGroup.
Mr Fitzsimons, who is said to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, has said he cannot remember anything of the incident. If convicted he could face the death penalty under Iraqi law and would be the first Westerner to face a murder trial in the country since a deal giving foreign workers immunity was lifted.
Mr McGuigan and Mr Hoare were allegedly shot after a vodka-fuelled row at 4am in the firm's compound near the Republican Palace in Baghdad.
Mr Fitzsimons' step-mum Liz, of Whitworth, wants him to be brought home and said: "The incident was not as cut and dried as it seems, there needs to be a proper investigation."
Solicitor John Tipple believes security breaches that have taken place since his arrest are proof Mr Fitzsimonds cannot receive a fair trial in Iraq. He said: "We don't consider the Iraqi regime is in a state for a fair trial. Sunday's hearing was cancelled because of the latest bombing. There have been several breaches of security. Only last week a huge car bomb went off during the security checks.
War-torn
"There is discontent right the way through the country, it is war-torn and dysfunctional."
Mr Dobbin said: "The aim is to ensure he gets a fair trial. He is suffering post traumatic stress, brought on by a number of years in Afghanistan.
"He has been left with mental health problems and has had difficulties in the past with other issues. There is a possibility of capital punishment if he is found guilty and my hope is the government will intervene. We want to get him back as soon as possible."
Former soldier Mr McGuigan lived with fiancée Nicci Prestage in Tameside and the couple planned to wed next year. She gave birth to their first child last month.
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MP backs fight to bring Iraq guard home for trial
November 18, 2009
Rochdale-born Danny Fitzsimons, 29, is accused of killing Paul McGuigan, 37, from Tameside, and Australian Darren Hoare, 37, in August.
Showing comments 1 to 9 and replies | View All
MancLadUK, Manchester (18/11/2009 at 09:56)
If we were to try to bring this person home to face trial here we are robbing the Iraqi victim of his justice, we are insulting a country we are allegedly trying to help to restore a justice system and we're executing extreme double standards in the process.
If an Iraqi national was accused of a crime in the UK would you be happy for them to be flown back to Iraq to face trial instead of facing trial here where the offence was committed? Not a chance!
To allow this man to come here for trial is something I'd be ashamed of as a nation. It would show to the rest of the world that we as a country see ourselves as above other countries, above their laws and able to do as we please. He should stay in Iraq for his trial.
I would hope the MP sees sense and allows the people of Iraq to see the UK as a country playing by the rules and not simple pushing them around, making it up as we go along and simply not respecting their laws.
Any petitions or actions to bring this man home should be counter actioned by the same to keep him there. Let the country where he is alleged to have committed the offence be allowed to try him for it as we ourselves would want in this country!
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (18/11/2009 at 10:08)
Andanotherthing, Mcr (18/11/2009 at 10:25)
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester
18/11/2009 at 10:08
He has not been tried and found guilty by anyone other than you yet. But I agree he should face trial in Iraq.
MancLadUK, Manchester (18/11/2009 at 11:49)
If we had someone come to the UK and kill 2 people we'd want them on trial here, if their country of origin then mounted a campaign for them to be taken back home to be tried how much of an outrage would that cause?
Shame on the MP for supporting a move to rob another country of it's justice and supporting a campaign which appears to insult the country as well as go against everything that the forces are currently trying to achieve other there in terms of setting up a legal system that people can believe in and trust. What kind of message does it send back to that country when our own MPs are supporting campaigns to take suspected offenders from their system?
I appreciate the family don't want their relative to be executed if found guilty, but that doesn't give him the right to suddenly choose where he be tried and opt for a country where a lesser sentence is more likely. It appears he entered that country by choice, seeking employment in the line of work he chose, so he should be prepared to respect their laws and be subject to them.
He should stay in Iraq, he should be tried in Iraq and if found guilty he should be sentenced in Iraq. I am not for killing him and I am against the death penalty, but at the same time I am also against our country undermining the work of our forces over there and sending out the message that we can simply do as we please in the face of other countries.
Fair is fair, he should remain there!
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (18/11/2009 at 16:24)
waywardweastie (18/11/2009 at 17:05)
Steve Fabbeni (26/11/2009 at 13:32)
If you only knew the REAL story maybe you would find it in your heart to understand and help a man who is sick. A man who I know for a fact regrets deep into his soul what happened and is scared and starving in a dungeon in Iraq !
ThinkTwice UK (04/12/2009 at 17:44)
ThinkTwice UK (04/12/2009 at 18:06)