Danny Fitzsimons

Ex-soldier Danny Fitzsimons is facing execution in Iraq after being arrested on suspicion of murder. It now appears that Danny has serious mental health problems as a result of his years of service with the British army, and his work as a private security contractor in Iraq.

Danny had always wanted to join the army. He joined the Royal Fusiliers at the first opportunity, aged just 16, and was sent on his first tour shortly after his 18th birthday. The letters he sent to his family show a young man that was living his dream, boasting about his training regime and how many press ups he could do.

However, whilst on his first tour to Kosovo, Danny experienced some extremely disturbing events as his unit began to uncover mass graves. Danny also discovered the dismembered body of a child who had delivered the troops bread and whom he had befriended.

Upon leaving the army, Danny started to work as a private security contractor in Iraq, where witnessed more traumatic events, including the death of a close friend: “The truck in front of him in his convoy was hit by an IED. The plastic doors of the truck sealed shut in the heat, and one of his team was shut inside. His friend screamed for Danny to get him out, but Danny could not break the window of the truck as it was bulletproof glass. He was forced to watch his friend burn inside the truck unable to help.”

Danny was diagnosed as suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and in May 2008.

Despite this, in 2009 Danny was hired by ArmourGroup in August and sent out to Iraq without conducting a full medical assessment. This despite Human Resources Director, Christopher Beese stating in September 2004: “It seems extraordinary that the doorman of a night club … may have to be vetted and licensed while the same man can be equipped with a rifle, an armoured vehicle and be engaged to protect diamond concessions for a foreign regime in a clear breach of the public interest and perhaps even in contravention of human rights [but he] needs no such regulation.”

Within 36 hours of his arrival, the incident took place which saw Paul McGuigan and Darren Hoare die.

Armour Group have since been taken over by G4S, a multinational group with a turnover of $9.504 billion that saw its 2008 profits rise by 22%. The company has been mired in controversy following the disclosure of bizarre hazing and drunkenness at the Embassy in Kabul.

G4S have tried to wash their hands of Danny with a payment of $75,000 towards his legal fees. However, the nature of a capital trial and the added difficulties of the situation in Iraq mean that a proper defence would cost $1.8 million – amounting to 0.0002% of G4S's annual turnover. Their offer of $75,000 works out at just 0.000008% of turnover.

The next hearing in Danny’s case is scheduled to take place on 4 August 2010.