A Co Derry man targeted in an SAS ambush was initially shot from behind and later while he lay on the ground, an inquest has heard.
Francis Bradley was killed during a suspected shoot-to-kill ambush close to an arms’ dump near Toomebridge in Co Antrim in February 1986.
The 20-year-old’s name was later added to the IRA’s roll of honour.
An inquest previously heard he had told of being threatened by police before he was shot.
At an inquest hearing in Coleraine on Tuesday coroner Peter Irvine heard evidence from several witnesses including a ballistics’ experts and a pathologist.
The court has previously heard that 21 shots were fired at Mr Bradley by two SAS men - Soldier A, who fired the first shot and Solider C, who discharged 20 rounds.
During Tuesday’s hearing it was confirmed that Mr Bradley was struck by eight bullets.
It has now emerged the first round fired came from Soldier A and struck him on the buttock as he bent forward and was facing away from the shooter.
The inquest has been told that Soldier C, who it was previously to him that he “fired the fatal shots”, moved towards Mr Bradley firing at intervals, including a burst of three rounds.
Two ballistics experts, who gave evidence on Tuesday heard from one who said that in all probability Mr Bradley was lying on the ground when he was struck by the three rounds.
Another expert raised the possibility he may have been falling backwards at the time.
During the hearing Karen Quinlivan KC, who acts for the Bradley family, pointed out that the former deputy State Pathologist Dr Derek Carson, who has since died, formed the view in written and oral evidence that Mr Bradley was lying on his back when he sustained those wounds.
During his evidence the then State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane, said the cause of death, as given by Dr Carson, was “lacerations of the heart, right lung, liver and intestines due to gunshot wounds of the trunk”.
Professor Crane said the three shots were the last sustained by Mr Bradley.
“I am going essentially on the fact that if those wounds were sustained, he is unlikely to have been capable of any purposeful movement after that,” he said.
“In view of the position of where he was found, if that’s position he had been shot in, then it seems most likely hat were the last shots that he sustained and they would have cause his rapid death.”
Professor Crane later agreed with Ms Quinlivan that when Mr Bradley sustained the last three wounds he was lying on his back.
“Yes, certainly, that’s my view, yes,” he said.
During Tuesday’s hearing Soldier B, who was present when Mr Bradley was shot, confirmed he was unable to present evidence about the night of the killing.
The coroner had earlier heard the former soldier agree with a lawyer he was unable “to remember anything about any of this”.
He also agreed that up until yesterday he had not been given any formal diagnosis by a medical practitioner in respect of his memory.
At a hearing last week Soldier C repeatedly failed to answer questions, claiming “privilege against self-incrimination”.
During the questioning Ms Quinlivan suggested to him that he had “executed” Mr Bradley “knowing that he posed no threat but nonetheless you decided to finish him off”.
In response Soldier C claimed “privilege against self-incrimination”.
