Family’s appeal to be with son for murder trial verdict

Liz and Eric Fitzsimons. Picture courtesy of The Press Association

The family of a former paratrooper and security guard, who faces the death penalty for killing two colleagues, have made a desperate appeal for funds to allow them to be with their son when he is sentenced.

Danny Fitzsimons, from Middleton, told an Iraqi court on Sunday that he shot his ArmorGroup colleagues Paul McGuigan, from Scotland, and Australian Darren Hoare, both aged 37, in self-defence after a whisky-fuelled brawl in August, 2009.

He admitted manslaughter with diminished responsibility but pleaded not guilty to murder.

Mr Fitzsimons’ family have always claimed he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of his experiences serving with the Army in the former Yugoslavia and as a private security guard in Iraq.

Now step mum Liz Fitzsimons has launched an appeal to raise over £15,000 to fly Mr Fitzsimons’ father Eric and brother Michael, 27, to Iraq for next month’s verdict.

She said: “As a family, we are just about bearing up.

“The judge is set to deliver his verdict on February 20 and possibly the sentence on the same day.

“The good news is that they will be looking at Danny’s psychiatric reports and are taking his PTSD seriously.”

Mr Fitzsimons has been held in the same windowless cell situated in Baghdad’s international Green Zone since the shooting.

He admitted being “frightened to death” during a call to the family at the weekend.

Mrs Fitzsimons said: “He told us if they move him to Baghdad’s Russaffa prison, he’s a dead man.

“He said the other prisoners will target him and he won’t last a day.

“It’s a horrible situation.

“If he’s found guilty, he faces either the death penalty or a long prison sentence, his life is in real danger.”

The family believe Mr Fitzsimons should be brought home so he can serve any sentence, if convicted, in Britain.

Mrs Fitzsimons said the UK Government is unable to act until a sentence is passed, but the family are due to meet the Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt on February 28.

They are even considering selling the family home to raise funds.

She said: “All I know is that I need to get Eric and his brother Michael out there before the verdict.

“The big cost is security, they can’t go without protection, it’s not safe.

“The best price I can find is a quote for £25,000 US dollars (£15,850).

“We’ve managed to raise £900 from the sale of wristbands but apart from that we have no money.”

She added: “There will be people who say Danny has killed two people and should face the death penalty, but there are lots of other issues.

“He’s desperately poorly, he shouldn’t have been out there in the first place, and there shouldn’t have been drinking or access to firearms.

“It’s a nightmare, and unfortunately our son is in the middle of it.”

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