Significant settlement in case of IRA man shot dead by British soldier

The family of a man shot dead by a British soldier while trying to escape from the then Long Kesh internment camp have secured a "significant settlement" in their claim for damages.

IRA man Hugh Gerard Coney, 24, was killed during the bid to break out of the compound along with other republican detainees in November 1974.

His relatives pursued a civil action against the Ministry of Defence after an inquest found he had been unarmed when shot in the back.

The High Court in Belfast was told on Thursday that the case has now been settled on confidential terms.

It is understood the resolution involves no admission of liability by the defendant.

Outside court, the family's solicitor, Pádraig Ó Muirigh said: "I can confirm that the settlement is significant and our client is satisfied with the outcome of this itigation."

Coney, from Clonoe near Coalisland, County Tyrone was part of a group of republicans interned without trial who took part in the attempt to escape from the internment camp, near Lisburn in County Antrim.

The former Maze prison closed in 2000 and the site has been in limbo for 13 years due to a political stand-off that stalled a £300m regeneration plan.

Coney had used a tunnel and was running across a field close to the perimeter fence of the prison camp when he was shot.

In 2024, an inquest jury found that no verbal warning had been given to him before the fatal shot was fired.

Coney's family sued the Ministry of Defence over the alleged unlawful circumstances surrounding his death.

Their barrister, Des Fahy KC, told the court that an undisclosed resolution had been reached, which includes the plaintiff's legal costs.

"That marks the conclusion of these proceedings," counsel added.