Following the release of the HET report the previous year, the McAnespie family met the British Secretary of State Shaun Woodward on the 27th July 2009. The family were accompanied by Sinn Fein MLA Michelle Gildernew, Fianna Fail Senator Mary White and Paul O’Connor (Pat Finucane Centre).
Following the meeting, the British government released a statement, co-signed by the defence secretary Bob Ainsworth, stating;
“It is a matter of deep regret that Aidan was killed by a bullet fired by a soldier which ricocheted from the road.”
The statement by the British government continued to back the original ‘ricochet’ account of the shooting despite being discredited by investigators and the 2008 HET report.
Faced with the dilemma of dealing with two contesting ‘official’ views, Shaun Woodward attempted to paper over the cracks. The British Secretary of State refused to “either accept or comment” on the HET’s findings, restricting himself to a general endorsement of their role and work.
“It is not for the Government either to accept or comment on the specific HET findings. However, in overall terms, the Government endorses its work and has confidence in the HET’s professionalism and thoroughness. Since part of the objectiveness of the HET is to bring solace and comfort to families and loved ones, we hope this will be the case for Aidan’s family.”
Passing of Aidan’s Mum
The McAnespie family experienced further heartache when Aidan’s mother Lizzie McAnespie passed away after a short illness on the 19th July 2010 at the age of 80 years.
Lizzie was a lady of tremendous faith who prayed the rosary daily, even whilst she walked through the checkpoint at Aughnacloy to Aidan’s memorial. She loved Irish music and for many years, she organised a bus trip to Knock Shrine, Co Mayo from her parish. Even after her passing, the pilgrimage from Aghaloo to Knock continued and was affectionately known as ‘Lizzie’s Bus’.
Lizzie was buried alongside Aidan at St Patrick’s Clara, Co Monaghan.
DPP Review
In January 2016, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Barra McGrory ordered a re-examination of the decision not to prosecute a British soldier for shooting Aidan after the case was referred to him by Attorney General for N.I. John Larkin.
The decision was made after the McAnespie family asked Mr Larkin to order a new inquest into Aidan’s death.
Aidan’s brother Sean said following the announcement;
“We knew the original decision was wrong. The family would like to make a point to the British army that no one is above the law.”
Vital Ribcage Piece ‘Disposed Of’
On the 19th March 2018, the McAnespie family received a devastating letter from the State Pathologist for N.I. to say that the section of Aidan’s ribcage, measuring 5 x 3 inches, that was removed from his first autopsy , “had been disposed of”. No other information in relation to this was available anymore.
This denied the McAnespie family to have the opportunity for a full Christian burial for Aidan and also denied them the opportunity to prove that Aidan was actually struck by a direct hit rather than the ricochet theory as told from the British government from Day 1.