SAS sniper Danny Nightingale to be medically discharged from army

SAS sniper facing retrial over alleged illegal possession of a pistol and ammunition will be discharged next year

An SAS sniper facing a retrial on gun charges is to be medically discharged from the army, it has been confirmed.

The army has agreed that Sergeant Danny Nightingale can be medically discharged, his lawyer Simon McKay said. It is understood that Nightingale’s last week with the army will be in February of next year.

The move comes after Nightingale, from Crewe, Cheshire, was recommended for medical discharge by the medical board of the British army because of serious brain damage caused after a collapse in the Amazon jungle in 2009.

McKay said: “I am happy to confirm that he has received confirmation from the army personnel centre that he is to be medically discharged from the army.”

Nightingale, 38, is due to face a retrial in July over the alleged illegal possession of a pistol and ammunition after a previous conviction was quashed by court of appeal judges.

It is understood that a further request will be made by Nightingale’s lawyers to the Service Prosecuting Authority asking them to reconsider whether it is in the public interest to hold a retrial in the light of …read more