Derry Court: Premlinary hearing of SAS shooting into Derry IRA men shot 84 times

A preliminary hearing in the inquest of two Derry men shot dead by the SAS in the grounds of Gransha Hospital on December 6 1984 has been told that it is hoped that all the statements from military witnesses should be ready by March 31.

William Fleming (19) from the Waterside and Danny Doherty (23) from Creggan were shot after being knocked off a motorbike they were travelling on at the time.

Fleming was shot 4 times in the head and 56 times to the body while Doherty was shot 3 times in the head and 21 times to the body. 

A new inquest is set to begin on April 17 in Banbridge and is scheduled to last 6 weeks.

At today's hearing a barrister representing Devonshire solicitors who represent most of the soldiers said that they hoped to be able to provide statements from military witnesses 'on a rolling basis' and have them completed by March 31.

A previous hearing heard that a medical report was being prepared on one witness known as Soldier A and a medical exclusion certificate may be sought. 

Karen Quinlivan KC for the next of kin said that Soldier A was 'a pivotal witness' and said that situation needed clarified.

Soldier A is believed to have been the man who rammed the motorbike and was also involved in the shooting. 

The hearing was also told that expert reports from ballistics, pathology and a site engineer were ready and a report from a road traffic collision expert was awaited. 

Fiona Doherty KC for the Coroner said that once all the interested parties had received the ballistic report they could indicate if they felt the need to get a report from their own expert.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 15.