Veteran soldier avoids jail for 1988 Troubles killing
David Jonathan Holden was sentenced to three years at Belfast Crown Court, but the judge suspended the term for three years.

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Your support makes all the difference.A former soldier has been given a suspended sentence for killing a man at an Army checkpoint in Northern Ireland more than 30 years ago.
David Jonathan Holden, 53, was sentenced to three years at Belfast Crown Court, but judge Mr Justice OāHara suspended the term for three years.
Holden was convicted last year at Belfast Crown Court of the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in February 1988, the first veteran to be convicted of a historical offence in Northern Ireland since the peace agreement.
Mr McAnespie, 23, was killed in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, moments after walking through a border security checkpoint.
In his evidence during the trial, the defendant did not take the opportunity to express remorse
He was on his way to a Gaelic Athletic Association club when he was shot in the back.
The McAnespie family said they were disappointed at the sentence, but stressed they did not want a āpound of fleshā.
Holden had admitted firing the shot which killed Mr McAnespie, but had said he had fired the weapon by accident because his hands were wet.
But Justice OāHara said last year he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Holden was guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.
In court on Thursday, the judge highlighted five points about the case ā Holden was 18 when the killing occurred, he had been convicted of manslaughter and did not intend to kill, he was grossly negligent in wrongly assuming the gun was not cocked, the fact that the gun was cocked and ready to fire was the fault of others and he could not know from looking at the gun if it was cocked.
Justice OāHara said: āIn his evidence during the trial, the defendant did not take the opportunity to express remorse. He could have done so, even in the context contesting the case.
āThat would have been helpful.ā
The judge added: āThe defendant gave a dishonest explanation to the police and then to the court, to some limited degree that is an aggravating feature.ā
The judge drew attention to victim impact statements given by Mr McAnespieās family to the court.
He said: āAidan was the youngest of the six McAnespie children.
āThe statements described the devastating impact the killings had on the whole extended family, how it changed their lives and how hugely challenging it has been over decades.
āI have no doubt this was made worse by the familyās sense of injustice that Mr Holden was not brought to trial at the time.
āThis is something the family shares with far too many other families in our society who have not seen anyone held to account for all manner of killings, bombings and shootings.
āIncluded in the statements is a haunting description of Mrs McAnespie walking from her home every night past the Army checkpoint to the point where her son was killed in tears saying the rosary.ā
He said: āWhen I consider the sentence I bear in mind everything which is put before me by counsel and the McAnespie family.ā
Holden is a former Grenadier Guardsman from England, whose address in court documents was given as c/o Chancery House, Victoria Street, Belfast.
The case was heard in a Diplock format without a jury sitting.
Supporters of Holden gathered outside the court each day the trial sat.
Members of Mr McAnespieās family were in court for the sentencing hearing.
Aidanās brother, Sean McAnespie, said: āThe most important point is that David Holden was found guilty of the unlawful killing of our brother Aidan.
āWe are glad we had our day in court. David Holden could have given an honest account of what happened that day but didnāt. The judge was clear he had given a deliberately false version of events.
āNot a day passes when we donāt miss Aidan.ā
A representative of a veteransā organisation described the sentence handed down to Holden as āextremely harshā.
Paul Young, from the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement, which campaigns against the prosecution of soldiers who served in the region, said: āWe believe that the sentence today was extremely harsh, considering the passage of time and what David Holden has had to go through over the last number of years.
āWhen you compare this to the Good Friday Agreement and the deals that were struck about terrorists, that they would never serve more than two years if they were convicted of any legacy offence.
āNow we have David Holden convicted for a manslaughter through gross negligence so there is clearly a disparity between terrorists and the security forces that served in Northern Ireland.
āIt is a disgrace and should never have happened.ā
The trial proceeded amid continuing controversy over Government plans to deal with Northern Irelandās troubled past.
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill proposals provide an effective amnesty for those suspected of killings during the conflict, if they agree to co-operate with a new body, known as the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.
The Bill would also prohibit future civil cases and inquests related to Troublesā crimes.
The Holden case is one of a series of high-profile prosecutions of veterans that have been pursued in Northern Ireland in recent years.
It is vital the UK Government shelves its Troubles Bill so other families can also get justice
Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International UKās deputy director in Northern Ireland, said the sentencing showed that accountability before the law āis still possible and must continueā.
She added: āIt is vital the UK Government shelves its Troubles Bill so other families can also get justice.
āJustice delayed does not need to be justice denied, but thatās what many victims will face if the Government continues with its gross betrayal by closing down all paths to justice.
āThe Governmentās claim that the Bill is about delivering for victims is completely disingenuous. Recent proposed amendments pretend to answer peopleās concerns but, as the overwhelming opposition demonstrates, no one is buying it.
āIt is not too late to put victims at the centre of legacy processes and vindicate their rights.ā