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Family of Troubles victim call for removal of memorial to British soldier who died while facing trial

Dennis Hutchings died last year while on trial for the attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham.

THE FAMILY OF a man with learning difficulties who was shot dead in 1974 have called for a memorial to the former soldier who died while on trial for the killing to be removed from a military barracks.

The memorial to Dennis Hutchings, a former member of the Life Guards regiment, was unveiled recently at Palace Barracks in Holywood, Co Down.

Hutchings died last year aged 80 after contracting Covid-19 while on trial for the attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham.

He denied the offence.

Cunningham, 27, who had learning difficulties, was shot dead as he ran away from an Army patrol across a field near Benburb, Co Tyrone.

Cunningham’s family said they are “unable to find peace because of this provocation” as they called for the UK Government or the Army to remove the memorial.

jpc John Pat Cunningham was shot dead in Co Tyrone in 1974

However, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has said they did not fund the memorial which was erected and maintained at private expense.

A statement released through the Pat Finucane Centre said: “We the family of John Pat Cunningham are calling on the Secretary of State Shailesh Vara and the MoD to intervene and ensure the removal of the memorial stone to Dennis Hutchings from Palace Barracks.”

“The custodian of the garden has clarified that it is reserved for service personnel who were killed in the course of duty.”

“Dennis Hutchings died from natural causes.”

“Hutchings’ family should place the memorial stone as they see fit in Cornwall and they can be left to grieve.”

The statement continued: 

“We had no wish to revisit this traumatic event but have been left with no alternative because of the callousness of others.”

An Army spokesperson said: “The Palace Barracks Memorial Garden is not an officially recognised MOD memorial.

“As this is a private memorial garden we do not determine what is included and the memorials are erected and maintained entirely at private expense.”

The MoD also said it is not consulted over private memorials and was not approached about the memorial to Hutchings.

Hutchings served in the British Army for 26 years and was posted to Northern Ireland during the Troubles in the early 1970s.

His trial over the attempted murder of Cunningham began last year but was halted when he contracted Covid.

He died in Belfast.

His lawyer subsequently called on the Government to halt the historical prosecution of veterans following his client’s death while on trial.

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    Mute mary carey
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:37 PM

    So he tells his boss to go F themselves and then he gets a promotion…?

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    Mute Beano
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:40 PM

    I’m gonna try that…wish me luck

    393
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    Mute Gareth Wogan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:41 PM

    he had moxie

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    Mute Beano
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:46 PM

    Balls……That didn’t go too well

    Anyone know of anyone hiring?

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    Mute OggieThe4th
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:47 PM

    Baz is,Beano :)

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:19 PM

    You mean when he resigned from his weekly RTE Pulse show which he presented and produced done for free for over half a decade as a public service, while license payers’ money continued to be diverted to making rubbish?

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    Mute Kane Abel
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    Jun 24th 2015, 3:17 PM

    Well obviously his Dad is Boss man on the Voice of Ireland, and his other Dad is Boss of 2FM….. Cause he sure as **** can’t present….. Typical RTE with their ankle-high standards :(

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    Mute Scarr
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    Jun 24th 2015, 3:33 PM

    Should 2fm not be done away with and funds diverted to more worthy causes within TV / radio? And no, I don’t mean paying inflated salaries – that’s another convo.
    We don’t need a pop music station funded by taxes do we?

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    Mute TheIrishBrain
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    Jun 24th 2015, 5:12 PM

    Was the wind blowing or did he arrive on a bike for that photo.

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    Mute Ivorpabst
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    Jun 24th 2015, 5:26 PM

    @Beano – well, how did it go ?

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    Mute Oisín Mac Aodhagáin
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:51 PM

    Not sure if its just me but does anyone else find that this lad is a complete and utter wreck the head?

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Jun 24th 2015, 3:25 PM

    It appears its not just you

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    Mute Oisín Mac Aodhagáin
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    Jun 24th 2015, 4:41 PM

    So it seems Fran, so it seems

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    Mute Colin Treacy
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:39 PM

    Bring back Will Leahy…!

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:59 PM

    They never replaced Will in my opinion so I haven’t listened in protest. #bringbackWill

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    Mute Seán O'Sullivan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:18 PM

    The best comment here Colin!

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    Mute S
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:38 PM

    Imagine that, someone who already works for RTE getting another job at RTE. Wonders never cease.

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:56 PM

    it makes sense to promote internally.

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    Mute Alien8
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:06 PM

    yes, that always freshens things up.

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    Mute Richard Canavan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:41 PM

    Insufferable

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    Mute Michael Chang
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:51 PM

    2fm should try entertain someone other than a teenage girl at some stage.

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    Mute Carlos Bandanas
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:52 PM

    “The legendary Colm Hayes”, now that’s a bit of a stretch…

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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:53 PM

    Lol exactly what I thought!!! Lol Colm who?

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    Mute Enda Rochford
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    Jun 24th 2015, 6:10 PM

    They sacked Jim Jim only to find out he was the funny one of the pair, which is bad enough, then shafted Will Leahy, the most popular afternoon show in the country and stuck him on in the weekend, then Colm was losing so many listeners they dropped in a new comedy sidekick Al Porter who sadly wasn’t funny either. Now we get Eoghan. Its a shame, Louise McSharry is probably the best thing on 2FM these days and they don’t even realise it.

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    Mute Morgan Freeman
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:52 PM

    I’m sorry, but that hair is an outrage.

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    Mute sonny black
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:08 PM

    I don’t know which is worse.The hair or his personality.

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    Mute John Collins
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:13 PM

    Overgrown, politically correct, teenager who wont stop speaking in americanisms, lovely.

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    Mute Old Gordon
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    Jun 24th 2015, 8:00 PM

    He’s unbearable.

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Jun 24th 2015, 8:29 PM

    Don’t know him, but seriously can he be as bad Hector…..he’s wreck the head central (I know he’s on Today FM in the morning at present), I’ve turned the dial.

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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:12 PM

    A complete and utter toss pot!!! Couldn’t listen to him!!! He’ll be well switched off!!

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    Mute Denise Friary
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:25 PM

    I will be operating my dial if I hear him. The idiot is a clown.

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    Mute little jim
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:55 PM

    He’s actually both.

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    Mute John Pidgeon
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    Jun 24th 2015, 3:03 PM

    2fm is a shambles, a station for teenyboppers. They god rid of Will Leahy who was head and shoulders above everybody and now have a terrible line up from the breakfast show right through to the 2 headwreckers they have in the evening. Now they have another headmelter in to keep the teens happy. Today Fm is not as good as it once was but it is still head and shoulders above 2fm.

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    Mute Pádraig McCann
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:46 PM

    Oh dear….

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    Mute Ivorpabst
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:04 PM

    He was very strange on TV covering EP last September. Very poor performance.

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    Mute Seán O'Sullivan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:57 PM

    If enough dont pay their licence the Irish might eventually arrive at some decent broadcasting. eg An item on Saturday with Miriam, covering 2 other rte presenters being praised for working multi roles that new talent could have been used for is worrying for a national broadcaster. New talent now!

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jun 24th 2015, 1:57 PM

    Bring back Dusty Rhodes.

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    Mute Hermes
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    Jun 24th 2015, 5:34 PM

    but the summer has been very wet …

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    Mute Elaine Moriarty
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:53 PM

    Can’t stand him!

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    Mute Donnacha Byrne
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:21 PM

    The merry go-round in rte, still goes round & round and has no intention of stopping

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:01 PM

    makes sense they can’t compete with today fm and newstalk in this slot so probably gone for a cheaper option.

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    Mute John Walsh
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    Jun 24th 2015, 3:42 PM

    I think RTEs idea is to make 2fm so bad, drive listener numbers down so they can justify turning it off.

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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:05 PM

    probably the most talented domestic entertainment broadcaster of our generation.

    And that’s not a compliment.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Jun 24th 2015, 4:34 PM

    Maybe if he throws another hissy fit in a few months time he could get the Director General job! Maybe that’s where so many unemployed people are going wrong these days. Turn up at an interview acting like a drama queen telling the interviewers to go f**k themselves and voila, “when can you start?”.

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    Mute Liam Na mBád
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:21 PM

    Big boots to fill – Colm was good and i listened to his show a lot. Eoghan wouldn’t be my cup of tea as I’m not a teenage girl so i doubt ill tune in. Hope it goes well for him though!

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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jun 24th 2015, 2:54 PM

    It’s the boys he’s after love!! :)

    58
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    Mute Cormac Bergin
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    Jun 24th 2015, 8:16 PM

    He can’t be any worse than Hayes, without doubt he’s the greatest plonker on radio. How such an unintelligent clown can make on to national air waves is mind boggling. He was embarrassing to listen to. Will leahy I liked and commanded the evening drive home, since his move I’ve tuned into nova. Good alternative.

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    Mute Ger Buckley
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    Jun 24th 2015, 6:31 PM

    big honour my hole…couldnt get a job on sky.

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    Mute Ingo Weinhold
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    Jun 24th 2015, 10:40 PM

    another reason not to listen to 2fm…the head on him

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    Mute Ivorpabst
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    Jun 24th 2015, 5:29 PM

    The one true talent they should give a show to is Al Porter.

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    Mute Aoife Gregg
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    Jun 24th 2015, 3:32 PM

    Jesus Christ people LEAVE HIM ALONE! Take your anger out on RTE. have u ever heard of ‘change is good’! Looking forward to tuning in and hopefully we see more and more of the talented Al Porter✌

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Jun 24th 2015, 3:58 PM

    wow can you actually see al porter through your radio ?

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    Mute West Cork Lad
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    Jun 24th 2015, 5:26 PM

    In this instance ,’Change is only good’ at a till ,Aoife .

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    Mute JOHN O'DONOVAN
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    Jun 27th 2015, 8:36 AM

    Glad to see that 2fm boss made a mistake by taking the greatest daily show on 2fm – Will Leahy – off air – Colm Hayes is gone already !

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    Mute Caroline Roche
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    Jun 26th 2015, 4:37 AM

    Aaarrgh – so sick and tired of the radio – 80% male voices – I want to hear a smart interesting woman not this lad

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