Families let down by lack of coroners reform

I see that the government of Mr Brown has yet again let down the Armed Services and in particular bereaved families of members of the services who have been killed in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is particularly disappointing considering the verdict in the latest coroners report

Army logistics failings led to the unlawful killing of a Scottish solider, a coroner ruled today.

Gordon Gentle, 19, died when a Land Rover he was patrolling in was hit by a roadside bomb in Basra in Iraq in June 2004.

A coroner's hearing in Oxford had been told how electronic counter-measures (ECMs), designed to disable improvised bombs, were in Iraq at the time but had not been distributed and fitted to vehicles.

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Coroner Selena Lynch said: "The supply chain appeared to be chaotic and lacking in clarity."

The Royal Highland Fusilier, from Pollok, died of blast injuries.

The coroner said the inquest at Oxford had seen that the Army's in-theatre supply chain "appeared chaotic and lacking in clarity". Ms Lynch also branded the Ministry of Defence's policies for disclosure of evidence to her inquest "illogical and based errors of law".

These inquests should be held quickly to ensure there are no more needless deaths and injuries to the members of our Armed Forces fighting abroad.

It was widely expected that the Queen's speech yesterday would include a Coroners Bill that would have strengthened the investigative powers of inquests and reduced delays for the bereaved.

But the legislation was left in limbo after ministers decided other measures were more deserving of Parliamentary time.

The Royal British Legion condemned the move, saying families had been waiting for years for changes:

“The draft Bill was originally published in June 2006. It is extremely disappointing that the Government has not put this forward,”
he said.
“It is particularly disappointing that during this national week of remembrance it comes as a greater blow to bereaved families.”

The Legion has made the Bill a key part of its "Broken Covenant" campaign, calling on the Government to honour obligations to troops in return for their sacrifice.



Families let down by lack of coroners reform - Times Online