John Pat Cunningham: Family receive damages over his killing

The family of a County Tyrone man with learning difficulties shot dead by British soldiers are to receive undisclosed damages in a High Court settlement over his killing. John Pat Cunningham, 27, was fatally wounded as he ran from an army patrol near his home in the village of Benburb in June 1974. Described as a vulnerable adult with a mental age of 10, Mr Cunningham was known to have a fear of men in uniform. Military veteran Dennis Hutchings was subsequently prosecuted for his attempted murder but died during his high-profile trial in Belfast in October 2021. Relatives of the victim sued the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for alleged conspiracy in the circumstances surrounding his death. In court on Wednesday it was announced that the action has been settled without any admission of liability. The family's solicitor, Kevin Winters, said later: "I can confirm that damages are being paid, but the figure cannot be disclosed." Mr Cunningham encountered members of the Life Guards regiment as he walked home from volunteering at a local church. On seeing the soldiers he became frightened and ran into a nearby field, but was pursued and shot in the back by a member of the patrol, according t