The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland dismissed a challenge to an inquest verdict on the 1991 killing of three IRA members in Coagh, Co Tyrone. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan ruled that SAS Soldier B responded proportionately to a lethal threat.

Tony Doris, Peter Ryan and Lawrence McNally died in a military ambush on June 1991. The three belonged to the IRA East Tyrone brigade active service unit. Security forces intercepted their stolen car on suspicion of intent to murder a member of the security forces.

Soldier B fired eight rounds within one or two seconds during an exchange involving up to 150 rounds in the village. A coroner ruled in 2024 that the SAS used reasonable and proportionate lethal force. The soldiers believed it necessary to prevent loss of life.

Relatives of Doris sought judicial review, claiming the inquest breached Article 2 right to life under European law. They argued Doris, the unarmed driver, posed less threat than his armed passengers and was wrongly targeted as he drove away.

A High Court judge dismissed the initial challenge and endorsed the inquest finding of immediate threat from Doris. The Court of Appeal, with Lady Chief Justice Keegan, Lord Justice Colton and Mr Justice Fowler, rejected further submissions.

Lady Chief Justice Keegan stated Doris formed part of the overall threat to life in the fast-moving incident. She noted Soldier B held an honest belief that the car's occupants posed a unified immediate danger to a military colleague's life.

The court held the coroner's view of the men as a collective terrorist threat sustainable in law. The coroner applied correct legal tests and reached a rational decision.