Belfast: Army veteran Dennis Hutchings dies while on trial for Troubles shooting

Army veteran Dennis Hutchings, whose trial at Belfast Crown Court over a Troubles shooting was adjourned due to his ill health, has died after contracting Covid-19.

It is understood that Hutchings died on Monday.

The trial had been adjourned for three weeks after he contracted Covid.

Defence barrister James Lewis QC had informed Belfast Crown Court of the development as proceedings in the non-jury trial were due to begin on Monday.

He told judge Mr Justice O’Hara that Hutchings’ condition had been confirmed by a PCR test on Saturday.

“I regret Mr Hutchings is not well with regard, as one would expect, with his other comorbidities of renal failure and cardiac malfunction.

“And we are unable to presently take instructions as he is currently in isolation in his hotel room.”

Supporters of Dennis Hutchings congregate together outside Laganside Court
Liam McBurney

Hutchings, 80, had been suffering from kidney disease and the court had been sitting only three days a week to enable him to undergo dialysis treatment between hearings.

He was charged with the attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham in Co Tyrone in 1974.

The former member of the Life Guards regiment, from Cawsand in Cornwall, had denied a count of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mr Cunningham, 27, was shot dead as he ran away from an Army patrol across a field near Benburb.

People who knew him said he had the mental age of a child and was known to have a deep fear of soldiers.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson called it “desperately sad news”, but said that “serious questions” needed to be answered.

“Whilst understanding the desire of the Cunningham family for justice, we have consistently challenged those in legal authority who insisted that Dennis stand trial again,” he said in a statement.

“He was an 80-year-old veteran, in ill-health on dialysis and there was a lack of compelling new evidence.

Former British soldier Dennis Hutchings
Pat Finucane Centre

“There now stands serious questions around those who made the decision that Dennis should stand trial once more. He was honourable. He wanted to clear his name again but was dragged to a court and hounded until his death.

“This is a sad indictment on those who want to rewrite history but also demands serious questions of the Public Prosecution Service about how this trial was deemed to be in the public interest.”

In a statement, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister said: “The needless dragging of an 80-year-old soldier, Dennis Hutchings, through the courts has had a very sad end with the passing of Mr Hutchings this evening.

“The strain on this man was cruel, with him requiring regular dialysis, while being brought to Belfast to face a trial of dubious provenance.

“My thoughts and prayers tonight are with his family and friends who may understandably feel that what he was put through contributed to his decline.”

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie called for a “full and thorough” review into the decision-making of the Public Prosecution Service.

“I would like to convey my sincere condolences to Mr Hutchings` family and friends,” Mr Beattie said.

“The decision by the Public Prosecution Service to proceed with a trial given his ill-health demands a full and thorough independent review.

“The questions must be asked, did this trial hasten Mr Hutchings’ death and did it meet the evidential and public interest tests?”

Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew reacted to the news on Monday night.

She tweeted: “I’m aware that there is a grieving family following the death of Denis Hutchings.”

“The family of John Pat Cunningham also continue to grieve tonight, 47 years after he was gunned down by British soldiers.

“Let’s remember that grief knows no bounds,” she said.

The Progressive Unionist Party also said it extended its “profound sympathies” to the family of Mr Hutchings.

The party’s armed forces spokesperson, Jim McCaw, said: “It is shameful that a veteran was hounded in his last day’s instead of being at home with his loved ones.”