You are in > Home / Baghdad, Latest News, Lead Story, Security / Briton facing Iraq murder trial has criminal record – paper

Briton facing Iraq murder trial has criminal record – paper

August 14, 2009 - 07:08:15

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The guard facing trial for murder in Iraq flew to Baghdad last week despite being under probation supervision in Britain after being convicted of robbery and firearms offences, according to British The Times newspaper.

“Danny Fitzsimons’s criminal past raises questions about the vetting process of ArmorGroup, the private security company that hired him. It has a policy of not employing anyone with a criminal record,” the newspaper said.

“His move to Iraq may also cast doubt on the supervision given to Fitzsimons, 29, by the Greater Manchester Probation Service. The former paratrooper from Middleton was supposed to report regularly to a probation officer,” it added.

“A British law firm said that it had asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to make a request to Iraq for the case to be tried in this country.”

“Fitzsimons could face the death penalty in Iraq. John Tipple, of Linn and Associates, said that he would like to go to Baghdad to help Fitzsimons, whom he has represented before,” the newspaper noted.

Fitzsimons was arrested on Sunday in connection with the fatal shooting of Paul McGuigan, a Briton, and Darren Hoare, an Australian. All three worked for ArmorGroup, which is owned by G4S, Britain’s largest private security company.

Iraqi investigators say that they have enough evidence to put him on trial for murder. Police are holding him in Baghdad’s fortified green zone, where the shooting took place, reportedly after an alcohol-fuelled argument.

ArmorGroup, which employs about 250 foreigners in Iraq as well as 700 Iraqi guards, said that it was investigating the case but defended its vetting procedures. “We undertake extensive research into the suitability of individuals to work in conditions such as those in Iraq,” it said.

Last November Fitzsimons was given a one-year suspended sentence for robbery and possessing prohibited ammunition, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

SH (S)

Print version