Soldier was shot by friend

A soldier killed his best friend in a 'tragic accident' in Afghanistan when his gun fired while he was checking it.

Ranger David Dalzell, 20, of 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, based at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, died from a single shot to the chest.

The fatal shot was fired by Ranger Sean Barry who, in a state of shock, screamed: "I've killed him, I've killed him."

At an inquest in Trowbridge yesterday, Wiltshire coroner David Ridley recorded a narrative verdict.

The inquest heard the tragedy happened on February 4, 2011, as Ranger Dalzell was putting up a commemorative flagpole for a colleague who had been killed in an explosion.

Ranger Dalzell, from Bangor in County Down, Northern Ireland, and his comrades had returned just from a patrol.

Ranger Barry had stripped and cleaned his SA-80 rifle in an attempt to stop the safety catch and magazine sticking. But he failed to notice the magazine was still attached as he tested the weapon and a shot was fired, killing his friend.

Ranger Barry told the inquest he had noticed the problem with his rifle following the morning patrol.

"I did not realise the magazine was still attached," he said. Asked if the rifle was pointed in a safe direction, he simply replied: "No."

He described his friendship with Ranger Dalzell as 'brilliant' adding: "He was one of my best mates."

The inquest heard Ranger Barry pleaded guilty at a court martial to a charge of negligently performing a duty while handling a service rifle causing the unintended discharge of a round.

He was sentenced to six months' detention suspended for a year.

See also:

• Grieving father given medal in honour of his Shropshire-based son who died in Afghanistan

• Inquest opens on Shropshire soldier David Dalzell

• Body of Shropshire soldier David Dalzell flown home

• Family says Shropshire-based soldier died in accident