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WORLD: ‘Mental fight’ of Briton accused of killing Iraq colleagues
Emma Rowley10 Aug 2009
A British security contractor accused of shooting dead two of his colleagues was facing an inner “mental fight”, it emerged today.
Danny Fitzsimons, who could face the death penalty if convicted, was arrested by Iraqi police after the attack in Baghdad's International Zone.
Paul McGuigan, who has family in the Peebles area of Scotland, and Australian Darren Hoare died after a drunken argument.
Fitzsimons posted a message in January last year on a Facebook page set up to honour fallen service personnel in which he told of torment suffered from losing friends during his three and a half years in private security.
Addressing soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan he wrote: “Stay Safe and to those who will return to fight a different battle ... A war inside your head ... A mental fight which will be tougher to win than any fight you've ever been in before ... To those of you ... Fight-through ... Keep your Brothers by your side and never give up ... You are not alone..! Danny Fitzsimons Ex- 2 Para.”
His profile picture shows a biker character wearing red leathers with a picture of a pill on the back of his jacket and the legend “Good for health”.
New information has emerged on his MySpace site, where he describes his love of hedonism including alcohol, drugs and sex. Seen posing with guns — and including grammatical and spelling errors — he writes: “When i come home from each rotation i give my liver, kidneys and braincells a good hiding to teach them a lesson and to help me achieve this i get as wasted as possible at every opportunity ... Remember reality is a condition caused by lack of drugs ... One love — pur hedonism twenty four seven..!”
The accused Briton had only rejoined the security firm at the end of July. He had worked as a contractor for various firms in Iraq and last year “took some time out” before returning, ArmorGroup spokesman Patrick Toyne-Sewell said.
Fitzsimons could become the first Westerner to face an Iraqi trial on murder charges since an agreement giving foreign workers immunity was lifted. Iraqi military spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi said: “It started as a squabble. The suspect is facing a premeditated murder charge. The matter is now in the hands of Iraqi justice.”
Another British man was questioned by police and later released, the Foreign Office confirmed.
Mr Toyne-Sewell said ex-Royal Marine Mr McGuigan, 37, had worked for the company in Iraq for six years. He recently headed up a team assigned to “personal security”.
Reader views (1)
Can we please dispense with the term "security contractor" and just call them mercenaries, it's what they are and it sums them up.
- Bob, Cheam, 10/08/2009 14:29
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