SAS shooting of three IRA men at Coagh was justified, coroner rules
The use of lethal force by SAS soldiers in an ambush which killed three IRA men in Co Tyrone in 1991 was justified, a coroner has ruled.
Delivering his provisional findings in the Coagh inquest, coroner Mr Justice Michael Humphreys said he was satisfied the use of force was “reasonable” as the soldiers had an honest belief that it was necessary in order to prevent loss of life.
However, the coroner also concluded that the military operation was not planned in a manner which minimised to the greatest extent possible the need for recourse to lethal force.
