Fatal shot was fired from about 1km away

An Irish-born soldier who survived Afghanistan was accidentally shot dead during training when he was hit by machine gun fire from 1km away, an inquest in Cardiff has heard.

Ranger Michael Maguire, from Coomhola, Bantry, Co Cork, was hit by a stray bullet during an exercise at the Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire.

Mr Maguire — who was 6ft7in — was on army training exercise with the 1st battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment when he was killed.