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Briton facing murder charges 'claims self-defence'
Ben Bailey11 Aug 2009
A British security contractor accused of shooting dead two of his colleagues and wounding a third claimed he acted in self-defence during a drunken brawl, it was reported today.
Danny Fitzsimons, who could face the death penalty if convicted, was arrested by Iraqi police after the attack in Baghdad's International Zone on Sunday morning.
Speaking through an interpreter, Fitzsimons, who worked for security firm ArmorGroup Iraq, said: "I got into a fight with two colleagues and they had me pinned down. I received a real beating.
"They beat me and that's when I reached for my weapon. I was drunk and it happened very quickly."
The two men shot dead were Paul McGuigan, from Scotland, and Australian Darren Hoare, both of whom worked for ArmorGroup Iraq.
It was reported that Fitzsimons appeared before an Iraqi judge at a brief hearing yesterday and had confessed to killing Mr McGuigan and Mr Hoare.
Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Abdul-Kareem Khalaf told The Guardian: "The British guard admitted his crime of killing the two men. He remains under investigation in the Green Zone on charges of premeditated murder. He faces the death penalty or life imprisonment, depending on the evidence."
A friend of Fitzsimons, named only as Richard, told ITV News last night that the former soldier was affected by his experiences in Iraq.
He said: "He's not a cold-blooded murderer, he's just someone that has basically been in a warzone and is reaping the effects.
"He's been through some very tragic and hardcore events and you know, seeing friends killed and colleagues killed has an effect on you."
He added that Fitzsimons should be tried in the UK because an Iraqi court would not take into account his mental health issues.
An Iraqi employee of ArmorGroup told The Times Fitzsimons had a reputation among co-workers for aggressive behaviour. "He was a very bad guy. We were afraid of him. His ways are very aggressive."
A former British soldier who had worked alongside Fitzsimons said he had a history of violent conduct which "should have precluded him from being hired".
He told the newspaper: "This guy should never have been out there."
A spokesman for ArmorGroup Iraq paid tribute to the dead men, describing them as "experienced, dedicated operators".
He said Mr McGuigan and Mr Hoare were "highly regarded by clients and colleagues alike and very well respected".
"Their friends and colleagues are all still shocked by the incident. Paul and Darren will both be sadly missed."
Mr McGuigan, a 37-year-old father-of-one, served as a Royal Marine before starting work as a security guard in Iraq in 2003.
His partner, who has not been named, is expecting his child.
A colleague described him as "a man mountain".
He added: "We will miss his laughter, stories and his friendship. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones, his unborn child and all of us will miss him being in our lives."
Mr McGuigan attended Peebles High School before leaving the Borders town when he joined the Royal Marines in 1990.
It is understood his father now lives in Ireland while his mother Corinne, who ran a travel agency, has moved away from the area.
Mr Hoare, 37, from Queensland, served in Iraq as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force before starting work as a private security contractor.
He leaves three children with his partner Mollyjoe.
A fourth ArmorGroup employee, Arkhan Mahdi, was shot and wounded during the incident.
In January last year Fitzsimons posted a message on a Facebook page set up to honour fallen service personnel in which he wrote of the many friends he had lost during his three-and-a-half years in private security work.
Addressing soldiers serving 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 writing "Good for health".
Fitzsimons, Mr McGuigan and Mr Hoare had been drinking earlier in the day, interior ministry spokesman Maj Gen Khalaf said.
He said: "He tried to run away but he was then arrested. He's now in Iraqi police custody and he will be tried under Iraqi law, which could result in execution."
A witness to the fight told The Times: "They were all very drunk and started shouting at each other. They had a big argument and suddenly (Fitzsimons) pulled out a gun and shot his two friends. An Iraqi was standing behind him and tried to take away the gun. But he turned around and shot him ... then he ran away."
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.
The shooting comes two months after five Americans were arrested in connection with the stabbing of fellow contractor James Kitterman from Houston. They were later taken into US custody.
Amnesty International UK media director Mike Blakemore said Fitzsimons should not be placed above the law but that his organisation would oppose the application of the death penalty.
