A TROUBLES veteran who was being pursued through the courts over a fatal shooting has died.
Dennis Hutchings, 80, caught Covid midway through the trial where he had denied attempting to murder and cause grievous bodily harm to John Pat Cunningham.
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Troubles veteran Dennis Hutchings, 80, passed away during the trial in Belfast Credit: Press Eye 3
He denied attempting to murder and cause grievous bodily harm John Pat Cunningham in 1974 Credit: Collect
Mr Cunningham, 27, was shot in the back as he ran from an Army patrol in a field near Benburb, Northern Ireland, in 1974.
Mr Hutchings’ trial was adjourned on Friday after he took ill and the court heard on Monday that he had tested positive for Covid.
He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance after struggling to breathe, but he died in Belfast's Mater hospital later that night, the BBC reported.
He was also suffering from terminal kidney failure and heart disease before he passed away.
The court had only been able to sit three days a week so Mr Hutching - who proudly wore his service medals - could still receive kidney dialysis.
The vet's defence barrister said the distress of standing trial had "killed him", The Telegraph reported.
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James Lewis QC informed Belfast Crown Court that he had taken ill and was unable to attend as proceedings in the non-jury trial were due to continue.
“I regret to say he’s been taken unwell and is presently in hospital,” he told Mr Justice O’Hara.
The trial had been ongoing for two weeks.
Mr Hutching reportedly complained he was struggling to breathe three days before it began, but remained determined to clear his name.
A former Blues and Royals soldier, Paul Young, who now works alongside the Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans group branded the trial an "absolute disgrace".
He said: "This frail, old, sick man hounded to his grave without being able to clear his name. He was absolutely determined to be in court.
"The justice system was insatiable and wanted his scalp but he died a lonely old man on his own in a Covid ward."
The former member of the Life Guards regiment from Cawsand in Cornwall denied a count of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
He was cleared of the shooting twice and was told he would not be prosecuted, but the case was reopened by the Legacy Investigation Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Mr Hutching was arrested in 2015 and taken to Northern Ireland for questioning, despite prosecutors previously saying they had no direct evidence he had fired the fatal shot.
Mr Cunningham was said to have the mental age of a child and an intense fear of soldiers.
The landmark case again shed light on plans to cease criminal and civil prosecution of veterans who served during the Troubles.
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Dennis Hutchings waving outside court before he took ill Credit: AFP
Former Army Staff Sergeant Dennis Woollons, 94, unable to collect for Poppy Appeal due to Covid
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