A British army soldier was shot dead at a Co Derry base in a drunken prank that when drastically wrong, a Belfast court heard today.
Coldstream Guardsman Dean Eddy (21), from Middlesborough, died after being shot in the neck while on duty at Shackleton Barracks on Saturday evening.
Lance Corporal John Smith (24), who is accused of the murder, applied for bail in the High Court in Belfast today.
Crown lawyer Mr David Hopley told the court that Guardsman Eddy was on security duty at the camp entrance when a group of soldiers arrived to await taxis for an evening out.
"They had been drinking in the NAAFI and became boisterous and unruly," said Mr Hopley. "Smith took an SA80 rifle from another soldier on duty and began waving it about and fingering the trigger.
"He then cocked the weapon putting a bullet into the chamber and almost immediately the gun discharged and struck Guardsman Eddy in the back of the neck killing him instantly."
Mr Hopley said Cpl Smith, who comes from Harelepool, told police that he believed the safety catch had been applied but hadn't checked that it was.
"He said it was a prank that had gone drastically wrong and in hindsight he said he recognised the folly of his actions," said the lawyer.
Mr Justice Gillen granted Cpl Smith's application for bail but directed that he must remain in military custody at the army's NI headquarters, Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, and must not have access to firearms nor consume alcohol pending his trial.