An inquest has ruled that Paul McGuigan who was shot dead in Iraq in 2009 was unlawfully killed. Paul McGuigan was one of two shot dead in 2009 in Baghdad by Danny Fitzsimons when hired for close protection duties in Iraq. A third guard, an Iraqi, was also shot but survived. Fitzsimons is currently serving a 20 year sentence in Iraq after being convicted of murder. The coroner described Fitzsimons as a “highly manipulative individual” who provided forged information to his employers. However, G4S had failed properly to vet him, having not obtained a CRB check, military discharge documentation, and proper reference.
The case threw a rare spotlight on the private security industry, and the way in which it had operated in the aftermath of the Iraq war. The coroner also found that Fitzsimons had not been properly managed by the probation service, including in its approach to ex-service personnel, and its understanding of security work. Nick Armstrong instructed by Sarah Ricca and Christina Juman of Deighton Pierce Glynn is representing Mr McGuigan’s mother in the inquest. For coverage from the BBC please click here.